THE Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Karachi, which was a cooperative housing society till the mid-1980s, has subsequently assumed the role of a builder and developer.

It acquires land at cheaper rates from the government, develops it as a housing scheme, and allots plots of land to serving and retired armed forces personnel on subsidised rates. Majority of the allottees sell out their plots to civilians at high prices, making huge profits. DHA is now a posh locality of the city, and living there is a ‘status symbol’.

While developing different phases, the DHA has constructed roads, developed parks, arranged electricity and gas, but has never addressed the water availability issue.

At present, a major portion of DHA is without line water. In Phase VII, VII (extension) and VIII, where there was no line water, the DHA laid water supply lines during the last few years, but these have not been functioning.

Furthermore, the DHA, which used to provide water through bowsers, later transferred this function/responsibility to the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC).

The arrangement of providing water through bowsers by CBC on payment of additional charges is cumbersome, time-consuming and not matching with the requirement of individual houses.

The residents are, therefore, compelled to purchase water from the commercial tanker mafia at exorbitant rates despite paying water tax to the CBC.

During the few months, because of damages and subsequent repairs of main water supply lines in the city, the miseries of the people multiplied as the tanker mafia unilaterally doubled the rates of water supplied through tankers.

A 3,000-gallon tanker, which was available for Rs6,500, is now available for Rs12,000, and that, too, after hectic efforts. The online tanker service launched by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has also failed to deliver.

In this situation, the question is: why is the CBC not arranging water through water supply lines laid in different phases? Why does the CBC not supply water through bowsers in the affected areas regularly according to size of plots of land without any official hassle and additional charges? And, why should the residents pay water tax to the CBC when it is not fulfilling its duty?

This is a serious issue, which will certainly escalate with the unfolding of the summer season. It is high time the CBC took it up on a priority basis, and devised some workable system for regular water supply to the residents of DHA for which they are paying water tax for years.

Shams Jafrani
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2025