Mardan – Residents of several areas in Mardan have called for an independent technical inquiry into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP), alleging that sections of its sewerage infrastructure have developed faults following recent monsoon rains despite the project’s multi-billion-rupee cost.
Local residents claimed that sewerage pipelines laid under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project had collapsed, sunk or deteriorated at several locations before becoming operational, raising concerns over construction quality and project supervision.
According to residents, rainwater entered houses in Canal Road, Gali Bagh, Misri Abad and neighbouring localities after the recent downpours, while damaged pipelines were reported at various points.
Residents further alleged that inadequate construction standards, poor planning and insufficient safety measures during execution had caused inconvenience to the public and increased concerns about the project’s durability.
They demanded the formation of an independent technical committee comprising representatives of the Local Government Department, the Public Health Engineering Department and engineering experts from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Mardan to assess the quality of construction, implementation standards and project supervision.
The residents said the project was being financed through an estimated Rs10 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank, which would ultimately be repaid from public funds. They stressed that transparency, strict quality control and effective oversight were essential to ensure the project’s long-term success.
They also urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to conduct an immediate and impartial technical inspection, rectify any defects identified and ensure accountability if negligence or substandard workmanship was established.
Residents warned that if deficiencies were not addressed, the project could face problems similar to those experienced under the earlier SUDP sewerage scheme.
