PEOPLE in Karachi have been experiencing a severe shortage of piped water for the last over two years. The situation worsened during Ramazan and still continues to deteriorate.

However, water has always been available through tankers at high prices. A year ago a 1,000-gallon-tanker was officially selling at Rs500, but now it sells at double the price. Similarly a bigger tanker sells at double the price. If someone needs water in urgency without a booking, he has to pay Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 for a 1,000-gallon tanker. During Eid days a small tanker was charging Rs2,500 and the big one Rs5,000.

Given this grim situation, loadsheddings for hours at Dhabeji and at other water pumping stations has also been curtailing the supply of water. What is the government up to if it cannot get water supply sources exempted from loadshedding.

Anwar Hussain

Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2015

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