KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has warned of launching citywide protests if immediate steps are not taken to address Karachi’s worsening water crisis, saying residents across the metropolis are facing severe hardships due to prolonged shortages.
The warning comes amid growing public frustration over the lack of water supply in several parts of the city, particularly as temperatures continue to rise and demand increases. MQM-P lawmakers have repeatedly raised the issue in the Sindh Assembly, accusing the provincial government of failing to provide relief to citizens.
During a recent assembly session, opposition members from MQM-P staged a strong protest, chanting slogans and demanding urgent action to restore water supply to affected neighborhoods. The protest disrupted proceedings as lawmakers insisted that the issue be discussed before any other business of the House.
Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Ali Khurshidi, described the shortage as a citywide crisis and claimed that residents in areas including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Orangi Town and several other localities were struggling to obtain even basic drinking water. He warned that public anger was growing and could spill onto the streets if the situation remained unresolved.
MQM-P leaders have urged both the provincial and federal governments to take immediate measures to improve water distribution and accelerate work on the long-delayed K-IV Project, which is considered vital for meeting Karachi’s growing water needs. Government representatives, meanwhile, have acknowledged the city’s long-term water challenges and stressed that completion of the project is essential for a lasting solution.
The water crisis has remained one of Karachi’s most pressing civic issues, with officials and experts pointing to factors such as rising demand, infrastructure deficiencies, water theft and delays in major supply projects. Residents in many neighborhoods continue to report irregular supply, forcing them to rely on costly private water tankers.
MQM-P has warned that if authorities fail to resolve the crisis promptly, the party will expand its protest campaign across Karachi to press for what it calls the city’s rightful share of water and improved public services.
