Destruction of roads and bridges dents donor confidence
Preventable deaths rise as roads vanish and accountability lags
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The recent floods have brought to light urgent and systemic failures in infrastructure planning as newly constructed roads and bridges, worth billions of rupees, collapsed under rainfall levels that should not have posed a threat, highlighting the immediate need for action.
Structures meant to last decades failed within months, raising urgent questions about design standards, construction quality, and oversight. Many bridges collapsed and roads were washed away during moderate rainfalls and flooding.
The failure did not push planners to act, as seen recently when the nearly completed Layyah-Taunsa bridge, built for Rs10 billion, suffered damage.
Departments responsible for road and bridge construction are causing colossal losses through systematic failures, said Shahid Rasheed Butt, former president of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce.
This is not poor planning alone, but negligence that is costing lives and property, he said, adding that the scale of destruction is staggering. Within days, hundreds of kilometres of roads and dozens of bridges, built with public funds, were damaged or destroyed. A 2023 Asian Development Bank assessment reveals that nearly 60% of the national highway network requires urgent rehabilitation, indicating a long-term underperformance of infrastructure spending.
We are witnessing bridges collapse after routine rainfall, noted Mr. Butt. When emergency services are unable to reach flood victims because roads vanish and bridges collapse, this is no longer just an infrastructure issue. It’s about preventable deaths, a situation that demands immediate attention and accountability.
The crisis has drawn sharp international attention. In July 2024, the Asian Development Bank, a key player in global infrastructure development, approved a $200 million Post-Flood Highways Rehabilitation Project, but with a critical difference, necessitating third-party quality monitoring and independent audits. The move signals declining confidence in local agencies’ ability to deliver flood-resilient infrastructure without external oversight.
Shahid Rasheed Butt highlighted deep-rooted problems. Contracts awarded on political grounds, approvals that prioritize profit over safety, and a total absence of accountability when projects fail.
Despite monsoon floods striking annually with predictable intensity, authorities continue approving designs unable to withstand even normal water levels. Oversight remains weak, as departments are allowed to investigate their own failures, a conflict of interest that has proven ineffective.
Both federal and provincial bodies operate without meaningful scrutiny, confident that public anger will fade before the next disaster. Meanwhile, billions meant for schools, hospitals, and genuine development are squandered on infrastructure that collapses before serving its purpose.
With climate risks intensifying, Pakistan can no longer afford this cycle of mismanagement. The time for action is now. Experts urge immediate reforms including mandatory climate-resilient design standards, independent quality audits during construction, transparent procurement, and legal accountability for project failures.
Every collapsed bridge and washed-away road represents not just wasted money, but broken promises to communities that depend on reliable access. Without fundamental reforms, billions will keep disappearing, while citizens pay the price in lives, isolation, and lost opportunity.
