Residents of Clifton and Defence, together with Jamaat-e-Islami, plan to approach the Sindh High Court on Friday to challenge the Nehr-e-Khayyam Karachi canal works, citing flood risk as construction nears completion.
Why residents are going to court
The planned petition will ask the court to protect the canal’s natural waterway and ensure proper drainage so heavy rainfall does not leave streets and homes underwater. Residents fear that concrete structures and changes to the canal’s natural width could restrict rainwater and tidal flows and put nearby houses at risk.
Nearly 80% of the construction is reportedly already finished. Rasha Tariq of the Clifton Residents Committee said workers continued building around the clock. She also said three drains built along the canal could worsen flooding, and pointed to homes that flooded last year after one of those drains was put in.
Environmental approvals under question
Residents have also questioned environmental approvals for Nehr-e-Khayyam in Karachi after the Local Government Department sought guidance from the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), the province’s environment regulator, on 26 October—even though building work was already well advanced.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Deputy Chief Saifuddin Advocate said the government sought an environmental impact assessment—a formal study of how a project affects air, water and land—only after residents protested. He said authorities should have prepared that mandatory assessment before approving the project and starting construction.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Last year: Homes flooded after one of the canal-side drains was constructed, according to a Clifton Residents Committee representative.
- Construction on the canal project advanced and is nearly 80% complete, according to reports of the dispute.
- 26 October: The Local Government Department sought guidance from SEPA while work was already under way.
- Friday: Clifton and Defence residents and Jamaat-e-Islami plan to approach the Sindh High Court.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Clifton aur Defence ke log aur Jamaat-e-Islami Nehr-e-Khayyam ke khilaaf Sindh High Court jaane wale hain. Un ka kehna hai ke nahar ki natural flow band hone se gharoon mein flooding ka khatra hai. Kaam lagbhag 80 percent pura ho chuka bataya jata hai. Environmental approval bhi der se maanga gaya, is liye yeh masla ordinary logon ke liye bhi zaroori hai.
