KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), already under intense public criticism over a water supply crisis that has persisted for nearly three months in several parts of the city, is now facing another challenge as its employees took to the streets on Wednesday to demand the resolution of longstanding grievances.
The elected KWSC CBA and the Muttahida Workers Federation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan organised the protest outside the Karachi Press Club against the management of the water utility.
The demonstrators carried banners and placards highlighting various issues faced by water utility employees and demanding immediate action from the authorities.
Among their key demands were the restoration of the medical facility, approval of the Charter of Demand submitted by the Muttahida Workers Front CBA and an increase in employees’ salaries. The protesters also called for the immediate payment of dues to retired employees, those who had resigned, and the families of deceased workers.
Restoration of old medical policy, pay raise among key demands; MQM-P lawmakers assure to raise employees’ issues in Sindh Assembly
In his address, CBA Chairman Irshad Khan made a startling allegation regarding the outsourcing of KWSC’s medical services to a private insurance company. He claimed that the owner of the insurance company is a brother of senior Pakistan Peoples Party functionary.
“The employees’ welfare and their future are compromised to benefit the company. Despite the medical department having an allocated budget of Rs340 million, payments amounting to Rs740 million were made to the insurance at the behest of the KWSC chairman. We have documentary evidence of these transactions and can share with anyone who wants to challenge us.”
He also issued a strong warning to the KWSC administration, saying that any attempt to abolish or curtail employees’ medical facilities would be met with strong resistance. He said that recent changes to the medical system had caused serious difficulties for employees and their families, adversely affecting their access to healthcare services.
The KWSC employees, Khan said, serve as the backbone of the city’s water supply and sewerage system, yet their legitimate rights and welfare concerns have been ignored for years. The soaring inflation, he said, has placed workers under severe financial pressure, making salary increases and enhanced benefits an urgent necessity.
The protest was also attended by members of the Sindh Assembly belonging to the MQM-P, including Abdul Waseem, Qurrat-ul-Ain, Muhammad Dilawar, Engineer Usman and Aamir Siddiqui. Also present were MQM-P central office-bearers Masood Mahmood, Abdul Haseeb, Ashraf Ali, Labour Division In-charge Arshad Ansari and a large number of KWSC employees.
In their addresses, the MQM-P leaders expressed full support for the employees’ demands and assured protesters that their concerns would be raised forcefully in the Sindh Assembly and before the relevant authorities.
They emphasised that safeguarding workers’ rights and addressing their problems is the responsibility of both the government and public institutions, adding that continued neglect of these issues is unacceptable.
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026
