KWSB issues final notices for payment of bills

Karachi Water and Sewerage Board warns it will cut off water supply to those who don't pay their bills.

KARACHI:

Consumers who fail to pay their bills will not be provided water, warned Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) as it issued final notices to defaulting customers to speed up recovery of dues.

The cash-strapped organisation suspended supply to SITE for a few hours on Friday but resumed it after getting immediate payment of an installment.

“We are facing deficits every month and this can’t go on forever,” said a senior KWSB official. “Consumers have to start looking at water as a commodity, which is becoming scarce and expensive.”

KWSB incurs millions of rupees every day to run its huge pumping stations which help supply water to homes and factories.  According to the board, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, Faisal Cantonment Board, Pakistan Steel, and Export Processing Zone are among the main defaulters. Managing Director Misbahuddin Farid has asked the revenue department officials to resist intimidation when collecting bills.

The board’s deputy managing director revenue Waqar Hashmi said that the Public Works Department owes Rs455.8 million, Malir Cantonment Board owes Rs170 million, Pakistan Railway owes Rs165.6 million, Printing Press Corporation of Pakistan owes Rs108 million, Korangi Cantonment Board owes Rs24 million and Pakistan Machine Tool Factory needs to pay Rs48.1 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2012.