The country's largest industrial zone, SITE Association of Industry (SAI), home to around 4,000 large and small industrial units, has been deprived of water supply for the past four days due to a standoff between the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) and private sub-soil water suppliers.
Industrialists have urged the Sindh government, KW&SC, SITE Limited, and Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab to immediately restore the water supply, warning of severe economic consequences.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Thursday, industry leaders criticised the Sindh government for successfully imposing undue taxes on businesses and failing to provide any essential services despite collecting those taxes and water bills. They accused KW&SC officials of pressuring sub-soil water suppliers for bribes, leading to allegations that the suppliers were mixing brackish underground water with line water. As a result, suppliers have gone on strike, worsening the crisis.
SAI President Ahmed Azeem Alvi stated that no water had been supplied to SITE industries for four days, bringing production to a standstill. "Workers are sitting idle, and export orders are facing delays," he said, adding that if authorities cannot resolve the issue, they should inform industrialists so they can explore relocation options.
Factories remain closed, forcing industrialists to consider shutting down operations and laying off workers. Alvi stressed that water is a basic necessity for industries and that KW&SC must ensure its uninterrupted supply. "The dispute between KW&SC and suppliers is not our concern. Both parties should resolve it without disrupting SITE industries," he added.
Industrialists fear the crisis will lead to the cancellation of export orders and widespread layoffs. "At a time when Karachi's industrial sector is already on the verge of collapse given the rising production costs, such negligence will further erode business confidence," Alvi warned.
Industrialist Muhammad Kamran Arbi called for a permanent solution. "We pay our water bills. Why are we being forced to suffer?" he asked.
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