ISLAMABAD: A retaining wall constructed along Prince Road in the Phulgran area of Islamabad collapsed after light rainfall, raising serious questions about the quality of construction and oversight of the government-funded project.
The wall, built to protect the roadside and nearby residents from potential hazards, was completed only a few months ago under a project financed through a special federal grant of approximately Rs280 million.
According to local sources, a significant section of the wall gave way following a relatively minor rain spell, prompting concerns that substandard construction materials may have been used or that engineering and safety standards were not adequately followed during execution.
Residents said the collapse of a structure built with such a substantial amount of public money has cast doubt on the performance of the departments responsible for the project’s planning, construction and supervision.
They called for a transparent inquiry to determine the causes of the collapse, identify those responsible and take strict action against any negligence or use of poor-quality construction practices.
The incident has also renewed calls for stronger quality control, transparency and independent monitoring of public development projects to ensure the effective use of public funds and prevent similar failures in the future.