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Karachi:
For people accustomed to the rush of water from their taps, cooking or cleaning are tedious chores, however for locals of Karachi surviving the growing water crisis, any chore involving liquid life is impossible without first engaging in endless haggling with the various tank vendors.
Shahida, a resident of Korangi, recounted her family’s daily struggle to get water for domestic use. “There is an acute water shortage in different parts of Korangi. Water is supplied via tankers and the price of a thousand gallons of water ranges from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000. At a time when people are already suffering from inflation, the water mafia only adds to our worries,” lamented Shahida, who believes that the government has failed to ensure equitable distribution of water across various parts of Karachi.
Like Shahida, Khawaja Jamal Sethi, a business leader and resident of Nazimabad, also revealed that several areas in his area are suffering from severe water shortage. “A water tanker costs Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000. However, even if you have extra money, it is sometimes not enough because you also have to have connections with influential people to buy a tanker from the mafia in time,” Sethi said angrily.
“Currently, the biggest problem plaguing the locals of Karachi is the shortage of piped water. Most parts of the city are suffering from water shortage, including Orangi Town, Surjani Town, New Karachi, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Sett, Korangi, Malir, Lions area, Kemali, Maripur and Lyali. Due to the shortage of water, the city is ruled by the tanker mafia, who sell water at exorbitant prices in the black market,” revealed Laila Raza, an urban planner and social activist.
Elaborating on Raza’s revelations, local social leader Mohammad Saleem Khan added that water tankers in Karachi are being sold by profiteers at a price that is at least Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 higher than the government-fixed price. Khan questioned, “Where does all the water in Karachi go?”
Mohsin Raza, secretary general of the Water Corporation People’s Labour Union, said: “Karachi needs 1.2 billion gallons of water every day, while the supply is only 415 million gallons. In addition to the seven legal hydrants, dozens of illegal hydrants continue to operate in the city, stealing water from the water board pipelines and selling it on the black market. Be it official hydrants or illegal ones, tanker owners are robbing citizens by selling water at inflated prices. The real water crisis can only end when more large water supply projects such as K-IV are completed and illegal hydrants are eliminated,” Raza believes.
“As per the new prices this year, a 1,000-gallon tanker costs Rs 1,560, a 2,000-gallon tanker costs Rs 2,100, a 3,000-gallon tanker costs Rs 2,800 and a 5,000-gallon tanker costs Rs 3,900. As there is no supervision when contractors sell tankers on commercial basis, they often bargain with customers and demand double the fixed price and even increase the price further if the water crisis is severe. The water corporation has 3,500 registered tankers equipped with QR codes and trackers to protect citizens from contaminated water,” said an official of the water corporation on condition of anonymity.
On the contrary, Jamaat leader and Alliance Committee Chairman Karim ul Haq Usmani confirmed that water is indeed being sold in Karachi’s black market and is sponsored by the government. Usmani strongly condemned: “Citizens have the right to enjoy Karachi’s water. We will protest against Karachi’s water mafia in every forum. By cutting off water supply to the people, the government is providing water to the water tank mafia, which is simply cruel to the citizens of Karachi.”
Similarly, Zahid Mansoori, leader of the Pakistani party of the Muhajir National Movement, also expressed sympathy for the people of Karachi, who he believed were thirsty for even a drop of water. “Despite our repeated notifications to the water board, no steps have been taken to address the water shortage in the city. We will inform the prime minister about this and raise the issue of water shortage in relevant forums,” Mansoori announced in an interview with The Express Tribune.
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