QUETTA: Water supply to many localities of the provincial capital has been suspended as hundreds of employees of the city’s utility company have gone on strike.

The strike by employees of the Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) — responsible for supplying water to Quetta — entered into the second day on Sunday.

The striking workforce also included tubewell operators and wall men, due to which no water could be supplied to the city.

The Wasa employees are demanding a 25 per cent ad hoc allowance and benefits.

According to reports, no water could be supplied to the city from over 400 tubewells due to the strike.

The city was already facing a water shortage, and Wasa was supplying water from the tubewells to different localities on alternate days for just one hour.

The employees have vowed not to call off their strike till their demands are accepted.

“We are facing hardships due to inflation, which is rising with every passing day,” Abdul Wahab, a tubewell operator, said.

Meanwhile, the Wasa managing director, Hamid Rana, said a summary for the 25pc allowance was sent to the provincial government, which rejected it.

He said the allowance would put an additional annual burden of Rs380m rupees on the authority.

According to reports, provincial minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran is in contact with the employees regarding their demands.

Meanwhile, the district administration has issued a notice to the Wasa Employees Union.

It claimed that the Balochistan High Court had banned strikes and urged the employees to return to their jobs immediately. Meanwhile, helpless citizens are forced to purchase water from the tankers, which have increased prices due to the strike.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024