Development experts have identified the lack of connectivity between over 400 kilometres of unplanned roadside drains and the city’s main sewerage system as the primary cause of urban flooding in Faisalabad, particularly in 18 low-lying areas.
According to sources, the recent fifth spell of monsoon rainfall inundated vast sections of the city, including Jail Road and Sheikhupura Road, causing severe traffic disruptions.
With no proper outlets linking these drains to the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA)’s trunk sewer lines, storm water remained accumulated for hours, halting the movement of vehicles and commuters.
Nasir Mahmood Wahla, a drainage expert and retired irrigation engineer, said that the responsibility for constructing these roadside drains was wrongly assigned to various departments including the Municipal Corporation, Communication and Works Department, and Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA)without any centralized planning.
After their completion in 2014, the drains were left unmaintained, and no department took ownership of the network.
He further added that in the absence of a maintenance protocol, staff from the Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC) regularly dump solid waste into the drains after dark. The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) also disposes of green waste there, while residents of squatter settlements along the drains contribute to the choking of the storm water network.
Ikramullah, Deputy Managing Director of WASA, stressed the need for a city-wide survey to assess the plinth level of major roads, residential areas, and commercial buildings.
This data, he said, should be incorporated into the engineering rules to standardize infrastructure development.
He emphasised that launching a comprehensive survey is essential to avoiding future flooding crises.
