As most of you would know, the roads in Pakistan are adversely affected after heavy rains. The devastation caused to the urban roads in Karachi during the unprecedented heavy monsoon rains in July 2003 was acutely felt by the citizens of this metropolis. While the federal government has allocated relief funds for rehabilitation work, due to the extent of the damage caused and the dearth of resources it is apparent that limited repairs to the roads of Karachi would be undertaken. In the light of such a situation, a local NGO, “Greener Karachi Trust” has come up with the novel idea of repairing potholes in neighborhood roads through a self-help scheme to be operated by volunteers.

In order to find out more details about this scheme Capt. K. Raffat Zaheer Secretary General ARUP met Mr. Mahmood Futehally (Tel: 021-2444775) at Mary Road, Bath Island, Karachi on 5th September 2003. Mr. Futehally was supervising repair work of potholes at the Mary Road site. He was using a mixture of SALINE SOIL and used LUBRICATING OIL (from automobiles) to fill up the potholes. He maintains that this is an INEXPENSIVE workable method of repairing neighborhood roads on a SELF-HELP basis. Mr. Futehally explained that rain / gutter water may wash-off the repair material but the neighborhood volunteers should keep a ready stock of repair mixture and apply the same in the potholes again after the water has dried out. With the movement of traffic over the potholes the material is pressed into a compact surface.

For the benefit of those who would be interested to undertake this inexpensive self-help scheme the relevant details are given below:

Mixing Formula:

· Saline Soil ……………… 100 Parts
· Burnt Motor Oil…………. 6 Parts (By Volume)
· Mix them together and apply

NOTE: - Saline soil is available in large quantities in all provinces of Pakistan. Sand content should be avoided / minimized.

Karachi Supply Truck Driver Qyoom Khan - Mobile number 0333-2125860.
Charges Rs. 3000/- per mazda truck.

Breakup of capital costs:

· 1 Truck Saline Soil (approximately 300 Cubic Feet) Rs. 3,000.00
· Burnt Motor Oil (about 500 Liters @ Rs.10 Per Liter) Rs. 5,000.00
· Labour Cost For Mixing Rs. 800.00
· Total Cost of mixture of about 300 Cubic Feet Rs. 8,800.00

By carrying out this operation in a systematic manner in their own immediate localities / neighbourhood, volunteers can make a significant improvement in the condition of roads at the grass-root level. Comments and suggestions would be welcomed by Secretary General ARUP (Email: arupkhi@khi.compol.com )