KARACHI: As the Eid holidays approach, Karachi is bracing for a worsening water crisis, exacerbated by increased demand due to religious festivities and sacrificial rituals.
The city, with a daily requirement of over 1,200 million gallons of water (MGD), receives only about 650 MGD. This significant shortfall is further aggravated by pipeline losses and rampant water theft, leaving countless residents scrambling for access to clean water.
While the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has pledged to maintain its water tanker operations during the Eid holidays, the scale of service remains limited. At present, tankers supply only around 15 MGD, barely enough to meet the needs of Karachi’s sprawling population.
KWSC officials confirmed that over 3,500 registered tankers operate from seven key hydrants across the city’s districts. However, this service is likely to face disruption during the holidays, as many drivers have traveled to their hometowns to celebrate Eid, reducing the number of available vehicles.
Residents heavily depend on these water tankers due to persistent shortages. Yet, securing a tanker remains a challenge. District-wise quotas are frequently exceeded, leading to long delays in service. Muhammad Umair, a resident of North Karachi, shared his frustration, saying he had been trying to book a tanker for three consecutive days without success. “I’m always told to wait, but my turn never comes,” he said.
Further compounding the crisis is the exploitation by private tanker operators. Locals complain that these so-called “tanker mafias” routinely overcharge, ignoring the official pricing structure. In low-income areas, where formal supply is nearly absent, people are forced to buy water from donkey carts, pushcarts, and small pickups often at inflated rates.
A mason from Baldia Town explained he could only afford to buy water from a pushcart vendor. “I’m using it sparingly. I’ll bathe on Eid after a whole week,” he added, highlighting the dire situation faced by many.
Despite these challenges, the water utility insists that services will continue uninterrupted throughout the holidays. A KWSC spokesperson assured that both piped supply and tanker services would remain operational. Hydrants Cell In-Charge, Muhammad Siddiq Tunio, added that all scheduled leaves for drivers and staff had been canceled to maintain full functionality. He also noted that online bookings for tankers would be fulfilled promptly.
Meanwhile, in Azizabad, residents staged a protest against KWSC’s failure to supply water, demanding immediate intervention and resolution to their ongoing crisis.
