QUETTA is also known as Pakistan’s fruit basket. Unfortunately, the region has been witnessing an acute water scarcity for the past several months, as Hanna Lake and many other reservoirs have touched dead level.

To add to Quetta’s hydro woes, the underground water table has gone down to around 1,500 feet. This has forced many orchards owners to cut down their fruit and nut bearing trees. Scanty rains have withered away lush greenery, and the deforestation and burgeoning population have placed Quetta in dire straits.

Meanwhile a water tanker mafia has emerged and it is exploiting the situation forcing people to pay as high as Rs10,000 for one tanker. These rates are beyond the reach of the impoverished.

The people of Quetta request the newly elected government to urgently address the crisis.

Jalal Mirza
Quetta

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2018