People surround the Nagin Chowrangi water hydrant during a protest against water shortage. Photo: PPI
KARACHI:
In the early hours of Sunday, residents of northern Karachi stormed the Nagan Chowrangi pumping station to protest against a severe water shortage that has persisted for weeks.
A large number of women participated in the protest, during which the protesters exchanged harsh words with the staff of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). Some enraged residents reportedly tried to manhandle staff as tempers flared.
The protesters said despite repeated assurances, the KWSC had failed to restore water supply to their homes for over a month. Many women complained that purchasing water tankers had become unaffordable and unviable for households already facing financial difficulties.
Chanting “Pani do, pani do” (give us water), the crowd demanded the immediate restoration of supplies. Police from Taimuria Police Station arrived at the scene after receiving reports of disturbances and held negotiations with the protesters. The demonstration was canceled after successful negotiations and the crowd dispersed peacefully.
Drawing Fault Lines
Water and electricity utilities blame each other for disruptions to the city’s water supply.
Following the K-Electric spokesperson’s statement that power supply to water pumping stations is normal, the KWSC spokesperson blamed the power outages on pipeline ruptures and supply cuts. However, the KE spokesperson blamed leaks in pipes that leak water over electrical cables, causing short circuits and power outages at pumping stations.
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) reported on Sunday that prolonged power outages at major pumping stations resulted in a shortage of 884 million gallons of water across the city in November 2025.
According to a KWSC spokesperson, repeated power outages caused by K-Electric severely disrupted pumping operations throughout the month. The Dhabeji pumping station was the worst hit, with 132 hours and 20 minutes of power outage, resulting in a shortfall of 424 million gallons.
Similarly, 146 hours of outages at the Dumlottee station resulted in a loss of 111 million gallons, while the northeast Karachi station recorded a deficit of 335 million gallons. Hub and Pipri stations each reported a deficit of 6 million gallons, and Gharo station faced a deficit of 2 million gallons.
Officials said continuous power outages disrupted operations of central pumping stations for several hours, affecting water supply across Karachi. They urged K-Electric to ensure stable and uninterrupted power supply to key pumping stations, warning that repeated cable faults were damaging critical pumping machinery.
They highlighted the need for alternative power solutions, backup cables and urgent technical improvements to protect the city’s water supply system from future disruptions.
The spokesperson added that KWSC maintained close coordination with K-Electric to ensure constant supply and water distribution across the city returned to normal once electricity was restored. He said all possible measures were being taken to further improve the system and ensure uninterrupted water supply to residents.
KE asks KWSC to repair leaking pipes
The KE spokesperson said electricity supply remains stable at all water pumping stations, but leaking pipes are hampering repair work. He said electrical cable repairs cannot be carried out in standing water due to risks to staff safety. Water seeping from KWSC pipelines submerges underground power cables, damaging the infrastructure that provides electricity to these stations. The spokesperson said the persistent leak was officially reported to authorities on November 10, following an earlier notification in June.
Repairing electrical cables in accumulated water is extremely difficult and time-consuming. He further explained that stagnant water leads to additional complications, such as bush growth, which hamper testing and correction of defects. Meanwhile, while water and electricity utilities are being blamed, residents of the metropolis continue to experience water supply disruptions.
