No more, no less: KWSB announces official prices for water tankers

According to the notification, 1,000 gallons of water will be sold for Rs1,000.

KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) announced the official price list for water tankers on Saturday.

According to the notification, if any hydrant or tanker owner charged more than the official rates, they will be sent behind bars. It says that 1,000 gallons of water will be sold for Rs1,000, 2,000 gallons for Rs1,300, 3,000 gallons for Rs1,700, and 5,000 gallons for Rs2,800. This notification was issued on the instructions of local bodies minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.

KWSB managing director Hashim Raza Zaidi said that all hydrant owners were strictly told before the announcement that citizens should be provided potable water at equal prices. "In case of violation of the minister's direction, the water tanker will be confiscated while cases will be registered against the tanker owners," he said.

He further said that if people are asked to pay higher prices, they should obtain payment slips and note down the tanker's registration numbers. According to Zaidi, people can register their complaints at these numbers: 111112957, 99245138 and 99203443.

Meanwhile, the local bodies minister said that a committee will be constituted to make water distribution transparent. It will comprise representatives of all political and religious parties, industrialists, traders and journalists. In his statement, he said that the committee will be an autonomous body which will also take care of the free tankers service that is scheduled to start from Monday.

He further warned KWSB officials that they should make their performance better and provide people with water in their taps.He also directed Karachi commissioner to set up 10 new hydrants in different areas of Karachi, so that water can be supplied to all ends of the city — particularly areas where the infrastructure of the KWSB has yet to be laid down.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2015.