Residents struggle with water shortage and oil tanker mafia profits from administrative negligence
Six out of nine water filtration plants are in poor condition in Karachi city, where only 150 bottles of chlorine are available every month. PHOTO: PIXABAY
KARACHI:
The city is facing a severe water shortage as repair work on a major 84-inch water main has disrupted supplies to much of the city. Residents of areas such as Korangi, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, PIB Colony, Saddar, Old City, DHA and Gulbahar spent four days without water, relying on expensive tankers to meet their basic needs.
According to the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), a leak was detected in the 84-inch water main near Block 19 in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, prompting emergency repair work which began on Monday. The repair resulted in a reduction of 200 million gallons per day from the Dhabeji pumping station, severely affecting water distribution throughout the city.
While KWSC says the repairs were completed ahead of schedule – 48 hours ahead of the 96-hour deadline – and that water supply would gradually resume from Wednesday evening to Thursday, residents remain skeptical. Pipe bursts, leaks and frequent breakdowns have become commonplace, leaving citizens struggling to access even basic drinking water.
The crisis has hit workplaces and public spaces hard. Employees at the important Sohrab Center business hub reported two days without water, while mosques in affected areas do not have enough water even for ablutions.
The repair work has also disrupted water supply to fire hydrants in Landhi and Sherpao, while areas around Safoora and Nipa Chaurangi are facing severe shortages. The KWSC spokesperson said all available resources had been deployed to expedite the repairs and apologized for the inconvenience, calling the work “technical and critical”.
Despite official assurances, Karachi residents continue to bear the brunt of failing water infrastructure, often forced to spend large sums on water tankers to survive daily routines. The current crisis highlights the urgent need for long-term planning and modernized water management in the city.
The PST warns against demonstrations
Engineer Muhammad Sarwat Ejaz Qadri, Chairman of Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST), said that depriving citizens of a basic necessity like water reflects the height of mismanagement and administrative failure. He noted that in many areas of the city, residents are desperate for water while relevant services remain limited to complaints and announcements.
He pointed to frequent pipeline ruptures, widespread leaks, delays in repairs and what he described as unfair distribution as clear evidence that responsible institutions have failed to meet their constitutional and legal obligations. “Precious water is flowing through the streets, while citizens are forced to buy it at exorbitant prices from the oil tanker mafia,” he said, calling it mere open exploitation.
According to Qadri, the current shortage has paralyzed domestic life and is seriously affecting hospitals, educational institutions and commercial activities. Children, women and the elderly face immense difficulties, he added, lamenting that public issues do not seem to be a priority for the authorities. He described the situation as a blatant violation of citizens’ basic human rights. Qadri warned that if the people of Karachi are not provided with clean, sufficient and affordable water without delay, the PST reserves the right to hold organized and peaceful protests alongside the public.
