RAWALPINDI — In a stern response to recent public safety tragedies in Lahore, Rawalpindi Commissioner Amir Khattak has ordered a division-wide emergency survey after admitting the administration currently lacks comprehensive data on uncovered manholes.
On Friday, January 30, 2026, the Commissioner issued a 24-hour deadline to the Deputy Commissioners of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Murree, and Jhelum to identify and report every open manhole in their respective districts.
The Current Situation
While the city of Rawalpindi alone contains thousands of manholes, the division’s tracking of missing covers has been described as inadequate.
- Sewerage Gap: Only 40% of Rawalpindi city is currently covered by a formal sewerage system.
- Manhole Inventory: Within the city, there are approximately 36,000 WASA manholes.
- WASA’s Stance: Officials from the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) claim that “most” manholes are covered and that a fresh stock of covers has been procured to address any gaps found during the new survey.
A public service message :
Have you ever heard of a child falling into an open manhole and losing their life? This is where such tragedies begin. There is an organized gang operating on a large scale that steals manhole covers and sells them, no matter how many times they are… pic.twitter.com/OyELYQrWDA
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) December 24, 2025
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The Commissioner emphasized that manhole safety is no longer a secondary concern but a “Chief Minister’s Performance Monitoring Indicator.”
- Zero Tolerance: No negligence will be tolerated regarding open sewers, which have been labeled as “death traps” by citizens.
- Project Site Safety: Contractors at ongoing project sites (such as the Kutchery Chowk remodeling) have been directed to secure all open pits and install prominent warning signboards immediately.
- Public Participation: Residents are urged to report any open or damaged manholes directly to their local union council or administrative offices.
Islamabad’s Struggle
The crisis isn’t limited to Rawalpindi. Just across the border in the capital, the situation remains critical:
- The Toll: Earlier this month, a three-year-old child tragically died after falling into an open sewer in the Submal area of Islamabad.
- CDA Data: Official records show that out of 30,000 manholes in Islamabad, approximately 1,657 remain uncovered.
- The Depth Danger: Some main trunk line manholes reach depths of up to 40 feet, making them fatal due to toxic gas accumulation and high-velocity flow.
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Emergency Contact for Citizens
If you spot an uncovered manhole in Rawalpindi, you can report it through the following channels:
- WASA Helpline: 1334
- Municipal Corporation: Local Union Council (UC) Office
- Punjab “Clean Punjab” App: Report directly via the digital monitoring dashboard.
The survey reports are expected to be compiled by Saturday evening.
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