Alleged bias in postings at KWSC affects water supply

Serious administrative irregularities and favouritism in postings have reportedly crippled operations at the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), where one influential officer has been assigned three key positions simultaneously, leading to severe disruption in services.

According to sources, water supply has remained suspended for the past three days in several parts of the city, leaving citizens struggling to meet their daily needs and forcing many to buy water through tankers. Despite claims of improvement, large-scale mismanagement continues within the corporation, while the sewerage system in many areas remains in disarray.

Officials confirmed that the supply of water from the Hub Canal - estimated at around 100 million gallons per day - has yet to resume, worsening the situation in multiple localities.

Sources alleged that senior engineer Sikandar Zardari has emerged as one of the most powerful figures within the corporation, currently serving as Chief Engineer (Bulk), Project Director Hub Dam, and Deputy Managing Director (Finance)-three crucial posts that require full-time attention.

Due to his divided responsibilities, essential work on repairing a 48-inch main line near Karachi University has been delayed, severely affecting water supply to Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Scheme 33, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and parts of Central District.

Insiders claim that assigning three vital portfolios to one officer has no administrative justification and has resulted in widespread inefficiency. "All major operations have been badly affected because of this arrangement," a senior official said, adding that Zardari is considered highly influential and "not even answerable to the Managing Director." Efforts to contact MD KWSC Ahmed Siddiqui and Sikandar Zardari for their version of the situation remained unsuccessful, as both officials did not respond to repeated phone calls.