KARACHI, April 20: An acute shortage of water in various localities of Malir for the last two weeks caused residents to depend solely on water tankers for their daily use.

Owing to non-availability of water, the private tanker operators have increased the rate of water up to Rs700 per trip. Though the tankers being operated by Pakistan Rangers cost Rs400 per trip, the poor residents have to wait long for their turn.

Complainants from Kausar Town, located in Union Council No 4 of Malir Town, said a population of over 300 households in the residential society were experiencing water shortage for the last many days for reasons best known to the officials concerned.The Chief Engineer of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Malir Town, said the problem being faced by Kausar Society residents was recently discussed with the town nazim. He said it was a private society and the existing pipeline was not only outdated but also insufficient to cater to the needs of the increasing population.

Referring to a decision in the meeting, he said the KWSB was ready to help solve the problem if people applied for connections and arranged pipelines.

Complaints of water scarcity were also received from Akhtar Colony, Bhittai Colony and Bilal Colony.