Water crisis disrupts industrial production

Federal B Area, one of the city's leading industrial and export hubs, has been facing a debilitating water crisis following the disconnection of underground water connections by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). The abrupt action has badly disrupted industrial operations, with production activities facing huge setbacks over the past two days.

Sheikh Muhammad Tahseen, President of the Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI), told The Express Tribune that 70 to 89 per cent of the area's water requirements had previously been fulfilled through subsoil water supply. However, the shutdown of three major underground water lines has left industries scrambling for alternative sources.

Authorities have imposed a daytime ban on water tanker operations, making it virtually impossible for factories to arrange emergency water supplies during working hours. As a result, production, especially during the critical day shifts, has been badly hampered.

Federal B Area hosts more than 70 per cent of Karachi's export-oriented industries. The ongoing water shortage not only threatens to derail production but could also have broader repercussions for the country's export sector.

Tahseen called upon the federal, provincial, and local governments to take immediate action to resolve the crisis, warning that any delay could inflict serious damage on industrial output and the economy at large.