KWSB to shut down bogus mineral water companies

Board’s managing director wants round-the-clock emergency centres.

KARACHI: Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director (MD) Misbahuddin Farid has ordered an immediate action against bogus mineral water companies in the city.

Presiding over a meeting at the MD secretariat, Farid said that more than 500 entities are selling water supplied by the KWSB as mineral water. He directed water connections of these entities to be disconnected besides blacklisting them. All deputy managing directors, chief engineers, directors and officers attended the meeting.

Farid said that KWSB is a public service department and its top priority is to supply tap water to all residents.



He said that all deputy managing directors should monitor their departments to improve the quality of their work. Other administrative matters, such as improvement in water supply system, following the daily supply schedule and placing the schedule at all pumping stations also came under discussion.

Farid directed that emergency centres must work round-the-clock and staff should be deployed in three shifts to allow citizens to register their complaints without any trouble.

Damaged and missing manhole covers should be repaired and ample stocks should be maintained by manufacturing new manhole covers and ring slabs immediately, he said. The deputy revenue director was asked to pay special attention to the recovery of outstanding dues with the help of the engineering department.

He said that all steps be taken to make sure all multi-storey buildings, hotels, marriage lawns and other commercial entities are paying tax.  He also asked him to maintain the record of water recovery and water connections.



Farid advised the HR department that in order to cut down expenses, policies on petrol quota, procurement of stationary, medical expenses, electricity and diesel costs and employee loans need to be reviewed.

He also directed to deduct salaries of absentee staff to ensure full attendance.

The finance officer was asked to upgrade and update the website while deputy director for Technical Services  was directed to recover all KWSB land under illegal possession.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2013.