Water tankers’ protest clogs Sharae Faisal

Association renews demand for abolishing water hydrant contractor system

KARACHI: One of the city’s water tanker associations, Karachi Water Tanker Ittehad, parked hundreds of water tankers outside Karachi Water and Sewerage Board’s (KWSB) office on main Sharae Faisal on Thursday. Their protest blocked the main thoroughfare and caused a massive traffic jam during the evening rush hour.

According to association spokesperson Humayun Mirza, former Karachi commissioner Asif Hyder Shah had assured them of the abolishment of the contractor system used to run water hydrants in the city, saying that the filling charges for tankers must be uniform. Mirza threatened of dire consequences if the government failed to meet their demands this time.

He said until local government minister Jam Khan Shoro contacts them to solve their issues, they will not clear the roads. He also demanded the formation of a committee under the supervision of Sindh IG AD Khawaja.

PHOTO: IRFAN ALI/EXPRESS

Meanwhile, Karachi Water Tankers Owners Welfare Association general secretary Hazoor Khan said they have nothing to do with the protest. The Karachi Water Tanker Ittehad has personal motives behind the protest. “Their demands are unlawful and we would never join them,” he said.

KWSB managing director Misbahuddin Farid also refused to accept any of the protesters’ demands. “They want to reopen the subsoil hydrants, which were closed down on the directives of the Supreme Court,” he explained.



Traffic jam

The protest led to a severe traffic jam in the city. An Aman Foundation ambulance, which was transporting a victim of a road-traffic accident in critical condition, was also stuck for more than an hour.

The patient had a head injury due to which he became unconscious and his nose and ears were continuously bleeding, said the driver. “He needs immediate medical attention,” he said.

District East Traffic SP Qamar Rizvi said that they had opened both sides of Sharae Faisal but it would take some time for traffic to run smoothly.