Altaf Shakoor, the leader of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), has made a shocking revelation about Karachi's escalating water crisis. On Saturday, he accused a powerful 'tanker mafia' of siphoning off a massive portion of the city's water supply with the covert support of political figures and a compliant bureaucracy.
A City Parched by Theft and Scarcity
Shakoor detailed the severe gap between the water Karachi needs and what it actually gets. The city officially requires 1,200 million gallons per day (MGD) but only receives between 550 and 600 MGD. This chronic shortage is deliberately worsened by the tanker mafia, which pilfers up to 30 per cent of the city's water through illegal hydrants. This engineered scarcity allows them to make huge profits from the suffering of Karachi's residents.
Infrastructure Collapse and Project Delays
The crisis is further deepened by the city's crumbling water infrastructure. An estimated 45 per cent of water is lost due to leakages, broken pipelines, and aging systems. Furthermore, pumping stations are highly vulnerable to power outages, which frequently disrupt the water supply. Shakoor also lamented the persistent delays in the crucial K-IV project, which was designed to add 650 MGD to Karachi's supply. He blamed political wrangling, poor planning, and design flaws for stalling this vital lifeline.
Unchecked Groundwater Extraction
Adding another layer to the disaster, the PDP chief highlighted the unchecked extraction of groundwater. Industries and private housing colonies are freely operating bore wells, causing a rapid depletion of the city's aquifers. This unsustainable practice threatens the long-term water security of the metropolis.
In light of this critical public-interest crisis, Altaf Shakoor has made an urgent appeal. He has called upon the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court to take his first suo motu notice against the powerful groups responsible for crippling Karachi's water supply.
