GUJRANWALA: A number of factory owners have protested against Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) management for issuing inflated bills on account of ‘illegal’ use of water and threatening the owners to demolish their units.

The Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and industry (GCCI) and other industrialist associations have demanded solution to the issue.

Talking to the media, GCCI President Muhammad Shoaib Butt and Senior Vice President Afaq Ayub warned the Wasa officials against ‘harassing’ the business community by sending hefty bills.

Butt said: “The chamber has been receiving complaints from various factory owners that Wasa officials have been sending hefty bills for many years in the name of arrears without any reason and trespassing on the factories threatening to raze the structures.”

He said the chamber had time and again asked Wasa to conduct a survey about use of water by factories but the agency did not do so.

He said: “If anyone [Wasa] has some complaint against the factory owners, the chamber should be taken into confidence so that the matter could be resolved amicably through mutual consultation instead of ‘harassing’ the owners.”

kite string: A minor motorcyclist was injured seriously when a metal string of a stray kite cut his throat near Nizamabad on G.T. Road on Monday.

Umar (7) riding a bike was on his way along with his father. Near Nizamabad, string of a stray kite fell cut his throat. As a result the minor suffered injuries and was shifted to Wazirabad Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2022