Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director Misbahuddin Farid has said the utility is moving fast towards bankruptcy as it is facing shortage of funds, which is hampering repair and maintenance work and payment of staff salaries.
He was speaking at a meeting of the All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (Aptma), according to a statement issued by Aptma here on Friday.
Farid urged the government to help KWSB by providing funds for necessary expenses as expenditures were rising due to frequent increase in oil prices, gas and power tariffs. KESC tariffs increased by 997 per cent over the last few years, he added.
“Total revenue generation of the utility is Rs320 million against expenses of over Rs1.35 billion,” he added.
Justifying the recent increase in KWSB tariff, he pointed out that few years ago the government had decided to allow the utility a nine per cent annual increase in KWSB tariff and the recent increase reflected this decision because from 2002 to 2006 it was not implemented.
He said KWSB had decided to withdraw subsidised water tariff for the Port Qasim Authority, Defence Housing Authority and all cantonment boards of the city. “These organisations have already been informed that the water utility was facing financial crisis and it was no more in a position to allow any subsidised water and sewerage rates.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2011.
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