KARACHI, June 28: The leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) have expressed concern over the water and power crisis in the city which has resulted in the loss of Rs40 billion to the traders and rendered thousands of people jobless.

Criticising the city and the provincial governments over their failure to resolve the issue, the MMA announced to observe protest day on Friday.

This decision was announced by Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi, at a press conference addressed by Prof Ghafoor Ahmad and local leaders here on Wednesday.

Prof Ghafoor said that the power and water crisis had turned into a curse for the citizens. The entire city was a victim of load shedding and due to power breakdowns water supply was being affected.

He said that since the KESC was transferred to its new management after its privatisation, its performance had been worsening day by day.

He asked whether to check the menace was the responsibility of the citizens or they were being incited to take law into their hands.

He demanded that if the new KESC management had failed to control the situation, the privatisation deal should be cancelled immediately and be fined heavily and the Wapda should be forced to meet the power requirements of the city.

Referring to other pressing problems of the city, the MMA leader said that a little rainfall turned the city into a quagmire and now when almost all important arteries of the city were excavated causing worst traffic jams and inconvenience to people.