Dug-up roadwork at Lasbela slows traffic and raises safety concerns

KARACHI: Ongoing excavation for a water pipeline near Lasbela Chowk has disrupted movement around Jamia Masjid Nauman, with uneven road surfaces, piles of soil and open sections of roadway creating difficulties for commuters and pedestrians.

The latest work is underway outside the mosque, where the stretch in front of the main gate and nearby access points has not yet been properly restored. The damaged surface has added to congestion at one of the city’s busy junctions, while residents say the area has become hazardous for daily movement.

Loose dirt spread across the road has caused motorcyclists to slip, and traffic jams have become common during peak hours. To manage the situation, mosque administrators and local residents have placed wooden planks over some of the excavated portions as a temporary arrangement.

Repeated digging by water and gas utility agencies has left roads in the area in poor condition, with restoration lagging behind excavation work. The current disruption around Lasbela Chowk has added to those concerns as the unfinished pipeline work continues.