PTI leader lambastes govt for failing to manage water crisis

Khurrum Sher Zaman accuses KWSB officials of selling water to tanker mafia

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) PS-112 MPA Khurrum Sher Zaman criticised the Sindh government for its incompetence in handling the water crisis in Karachi, which has led to the rise of the tanker mafia.

"There is little to no water flowing in the pipelines of houses in Karachi, which is forcing residents to purchase water tankers at exorbitant rates," he said, while speaking to the media on Wednesday. According to him, various areas of the city are facing an acute water shortage due to water being stolen and sold under the patronage of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) officials.

Zaman questioned how water tankers are getting water when the citizens are not receiving a drop of water through their water pipelines. He alleged that KWSB officials are selling water to the tankers, which should actually be distributed to the homes of Karachi residents.



According to him, the KWSB officials are providing water to the people at very high rates and this is happening with the blessing of the Sindh government. "Why is water being sold at a huge premium above the government-regulated prices?" he asked, claiming that a Rs1,000 tanker of water is currently being sold from Rs3,500 to Rs5,000.

The unlawful distribution of water results in corruption of more than Rs3 billion annually and it is the public that suffers from the corrupt practices of the government, he added. Zaman was of the view that the people are not getting water in their taps but the ability of the tanker mafia to get huge quantities of water raises a serious question mark on the performance of the Sindh government.



Zaman warned that if this water theft is not immediately stopped, they will be left with no choice but to come out on the streets with the public in protest. "We demand action against all facilitators of the water mafia and urge the chief minister to wake up from his slumber, as the water crisis has reached its peak," he added.

While responding to Zaman's statement, Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro said the water shortage has hit the city because of a fault in the pipeline. "A pipeline burst in Dhabeji on Tuesday and the repair work is ongoing. This issue will be resolved soon," he said, adding that Zaman is doing politics on this issue.