KARACHI, Feb 20: Members of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town Council on Friday staged a demonstration to register their protest against poor performance of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the faulty water distribution system managed by it.
The protesting members assembled outside office of the town administration and voiced their serious concern and resentment over the non-availability of water in various union councils.
They were carrying placards inscribed with slogans such as KWSB policy - Na Kaam Karo, Na Kaam Karne Do, and 'KWSB be given under town administrations'.
Speaking on the occasion, Nazim of the Gulshan Town Abdul Wahab said that complaints against the non-availability of water would continue to pour in and its employees would neither work nor would allow let others to do work until and unless the KWSB was given under town administrations.
Claiming that most of the works concerning water supply and sewerage system in Gulshan Town had been undertaken by the town's administration itself, he said that 70 per cent of total complaints which it usually received from public pertained to water and sewerage system.
Criticizing the Board's performance, one of the Town Council members, Sabir Ali, accused the KWSB officials of taking no interest in resolving the lingering water and sewerage problems of the town.
Nazim of Union Council-8, Yaseen Nagori, said that if the lingering issues were not resolved immediately, the town's elected representatives would resort to protest rallies and even hunger strike.
Other protesting members who made hard-hitting speeches against the KWSB included Abdul Aziz, Syed Khizar Baqri, Numaish Khan, Usman Ghani, Qambar Ali Bangash, Ibrahim Soomro, Shehnaz Sheikh, Bina Masroor, Shehzadi Michael and Shagufta Shahid.
COMPLAINT CENTRES: The KWSB has set up a number of complaint centres to facilitate people in getting their problems pertaining to water shortage and overflowing gutters resolved.
The complaints centres along and their telephone numbers are as follows:Central Complaint Cell (9231221), Staff Engineer (Sewerage) (9230317), North Nazimabad Town (6637787), North Karachi Town (6972886), Gulberg Town (6327618), Liaquatabad Town (6326360), Gulshan Town (9230316), Saddar Town (2421985), Jamshed Town (4521781), Site Town (0300-2275854), Baldia Town (0333-2257731), Orangi Town (0300-2218104), Gadap Town (0320-5014786), Keamari Town (0320-5080366), Lyari Town (0300-2413940), Shah Faisal Town (0320-5058041), Landhi Town (0300-2446556), Korangi Town (0333-2245861), Malir Town (0333-2134652) and Bin Qasim Town (0320-4092186).
The MD of KWSB, Brig Asif Ghazali, has directed engineers to make special arrangements for Muharram and ensure that no manholes remained uncovered and no sewerage lines did overflow.
He also asked the engineers to ensure that all routes of Muharram processions remained clear of filthy water. He warned that those found guilty of negligence would face disciplinary action.