Open Manholes Are “Black Holes for Humans,” Says Khawaja Saad Rafique

Lahore: Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique has described open manholes as “black holes for living human beings,” urging authorities to take immediate action to prevent further loss of life.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, he said that frequent incidents of children and adults falling into uncovered manholes and losing their lives are deeply distressing. He noted that innocent children playing or pedestrians often become victims of such negligence.
Khawaja Saad Rafique criticized the repeated cycle of incidents, stating that investigations are conducted and officials are suspended, but institutional negligence continues without any permanent solution.
He stressed that local government bodies and water and sanitation authorities are responsible for ensuring that all manholes are properly covered. He also highlighted that in some cases, individuals addicted to drugs remove manhole covers and sell the iron rings to fund their addiction, worsening the problem.
The PML-N leader called on provincial governments as well as federal cantonment boards to urgently address the issue and implement a long-term solution to protect human lives and prevent further tragedies.