Karachi residents struggle with water shortage amid Eid tanker service halt

Residents of Karachi are facing severe water shortage in various areas and the disruption of water bouncer service during the first two days of Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to add to their woes. The city relies on the old supply and distribution structure of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) for nearly half of its daily water needs. However, according to a report in Dawn, the recent power outage at the Dhabeji pumping station has disrupted its normal operations. Local residents expressed that the water shortage during the three days of Eid will cause considerable inconvenience, forcing them to limit their water usage.

The worst affected areas are parts of Central, West and Kemari districts. However, other districts are also facing similar challenges, with some areas not getting water from main pipelines for several days. This situation has forced the residents to look for water tankers to meet their daily needs.

The suspension of the water tanker service during the Eid festival will particularly affect more affluent areas of the city, such as the Defence Housing Authority and Clifton, as many residents depend on water tankers for their supplies. KWSC Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali Siddiqui directed the water utility officials to ensure the delivery of all pre-booked water tankers before Eid-ul-Fitr.

Siddiqui mentioned in his statement that the tanker service would be stopped temporarily on March 31 (Monday) and April 1 (Tuesday) owing to public holidays, Dawn reported. However, he said the service will be available on hydrant windows on April 2. "From April 3, the tanker service will be fully restored through a mobile app on all hydrants. "