MANY reports have appeared in the media in recent days about the delay in the procedure of KWSB whatsapp application and the excessive rates charged for a tanker of water. The reports have also pointed out that prices have not been reduced despite the fact that petrol and diesel prices have been slashed for three consecutive months.

As a citizen with modest means who is forced to purchase water, I would like to highlight some positive aspects of the KWSB water tanker service when it is compared to that of private tanker services.

They private water tankers sell 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 gallons of water at Rs3,200 to Rs3,500, Rs5,000 and Rs8000 respectively per tanker. On the other hand the KWSB tanker rate is Rs1,800 for 1,000 gallons and Rs5,000 for 3,000 gallons.

In summer, there is an acute water shortage problem in many parts of the city and the private water tankers raise their charges exorbitantly. Therefore I prefer to stick with the KWSB tanker service.

Having said that, there is room for improvement in KWSB’s tanker service. The KWSB should take measures to ensure that the use of web application

is made easier for consumers. They should also introduce Urdu in the application.

Secondly, some unscrupulous KWSB workers sell tankers to private customers by sending a message to the actual applicant that their request has been rejected or the application is cancelled.

The KWSB authorities should take note of these problems.

Sharjeel Javed Siddique
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2020