Citizens fill water containers at a pumping station in Baldia. Almost all the areas in Karachi are facing an acute shortage of water since the last few weeks. PHOTO: ONLINE
With the help of a rental desalination plant, the residents of Karachi will be able to enjoy clean, drinking water from the start of Ramazan.
Sindh information and local government minister Sharjeel Memon announced on Monday that 40 million gallons per day (MGD) will be supplied to the city during the holy month while an additional 20MGD will be provided within three months. The water will be supplied from a rental desalination plant in the sea, after Memon had an agreement with foreign companies to set it up.
Addressing press conference at his office on Monday, Memon said that this system is working successfully in most countries. The government will sign a memorandum of understanding with the foreign companies next month to supply 80MGD from the desalination plant, while the ground-breaking ceremony of the K-4 water project will be held on June 10.
Residents of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) were buying 3,000 gallons for Rs3,000 but now they will be able to get desalinated water for merely Rs1,500, pointed out Memon, adding that a similar rental desalination plant will be set up in the next few months.
The minister accused some elements of trying to play politics on the water issue but, he said, the government decided to reply by working and providing water to the people. The government also decided to complete all the incomplete water supply schemes in this year, said Memon, adding that more than Rs800 milion will be allocated in the upcoming budget for this purpose.
Governance and politics
The Sindh government is ready to hold local bodies' elections on September 20, he said, adding that the arrangements for the polls are nearly complete in Sindh. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) believes in democracy, he added.
The minister criticised the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government for arresting Awami National Party leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain and felt it was 'political victimisation'. The PTI must avoid repeating past political trends otherwise the democratic system will be damaged, he said.
Memon rejected the impression that there were any differences between PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto and co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari. Both party leaders play their role to strengthen democracy and democratic system in the country, he said, adding that both the father-son duo are working for the solution of the problems of the common man. For Memon, estranged PPP leader Zulfiqar Mirza has become a part of the past.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2015.
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