Scarcity of water in Hayatabad echoes in K-P Assembly

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday forwarded the issue of water shortage in Hayatabad area of Peshawar to the standing committee.

During the session chaired by Deputy Speaker K-P Assembly, Suriyya Bibi, treasury member Taj Muhammad Tarand and PML-N MPA Jalal Khan in his supplementary question noted that water crisis has worsened in Hayatabad, which is most posh area of the province.

Its residents also pay water bills including taxes, but they are forced to buy water in tankers for their daily needs. The incompetence of the Peshawar Development Authority is such that despite collecting taxes, it cannot provide even potable water.

Law Minister, Aftab Alam replied that there are more than 90 water supply schemes in Hayatabad, which indicates that there is a problem of pipelines in the areas where water is not coming.

He stated that PDA has written a letter to the Irrigation Department that the required water should be supplied from the canal system.

JUI MPA Adnan Khan said that this problem has worsened over time, and the matter has also been brought to the notice of the concerned local government minister.

On the request of the members, deputy speaker handed over the proceedings for the supplementary question to the Standing Committee.

Similarly, the female opposition member in Assembly called the appointment of a male technician for ultrasound in LRH Hospital against Pakhtun traditions.

The treasury benches, however, opposed it by linking the issue with gender equality, however, due to the intervention of the Deputy Speaker, the call attention notice was handed over to the Standing Committee.