KMC discussion regarding the water crisis concludes in a brawl.
A special session of the Karachi City Council was held at the KMC Headquarters to address the severe water problem in the metropolitan area. The conference, presided over by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, included treasury and opposition members, along with senior officials from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC).
The session, which exceeded two and a half hours, concentrated on urgent issues pertaining to water scarcity, inadequate distribution, water theft, and institutional inefficiencies. The mayor adjourned the meeting, which will reconvene on Friday.
Notwithstanding guarantees of presence, KWSC CEO Ahmed Siddiqui and COO Asadullah Khan failed to attend the session owing to recent decisions from the Sindh High Court nullifying their appointments. Their absence aroused alarm from other council members.
A controversial moment emerged during the meeting when Mayor Wahab requested KWSC Chief Engineer (Bulk) Syed Ijaz Ahmed to depart, asserting that he was not the suitable official for the discourse. Opposition leader Saifuddin Advocate vehemently opposed this action, considering it impolite and unprofessional.
Numerous council members conveyed astonishment, particularly as another top KWSC official, Chief Engineer (Distribution) Muhammad Ali Sheikh, was present without being interrogated. The event resulted in allegations of political partiality and inappropriate targeting of officials.
PPP leader Najmi Alam condemned the operational framework and revenue generating of the KWSC. He suggested partitioning the utility into three administrative zones, each with appointed officers to improve efficiency. Alam emphasised that although leasing rights have been conferred to several informal settlements, adequate billing protocols are absent. He observed that KWSC generates merely Rs600 million in revenue, has 400 unfilled positions, and experiences extensive unauthorised water connections, especially in District West.
In the session, Shahid Farman, Chairman of the Union Council in Karachi Admin Society, levelled grave accusations against Farhan Ghani, Chairman of Chanesar Town and sibling of Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani. Farman asserted that Ghani was protecting water theft within his jurisdiction and that KWSC personnel had acknowledged their inability to intervene due to political involvement. This allegation incited a passionate debate among PPP council members, which Mayor Wahab ultimately subdued.
The city mayor recognised that water theft, especially from the K-III supply line, persists as a problem. He asserted that initiatives are currently underway to mitigate the issue. He also presented a comparison between KWSC and K-Electric customer bases, noting that KWSC has only 1.4 million registered customers, compared to 3.8 million for K-Electric. He asserted that hardly half a million water subscribers receive bills, and an even lesser proportion fulfils their payment obligations. Since assuming office, the mayor stated that the KWSC’s revenue has risen from Rs1.1 billion to Rs1.8 billion; nonetheless, the majority of these money are predominantly allocated to operations and maintenance costs.
Simultaneously, outside the KMC Headquarters, retired personnel conducted a demonstration advocating for the disbursement of pensions and arrears that had been overdue for more than ten years. The protesters vocalised slogans opposing the mayor and the Sindh government, highlighting their enduring economic difficulties.
A delegation from the MQM-Pakistan, led by opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khursheedi, joined the protest in solidarity. The issue of unpaid pensions affects retirees across all local government bodies, from Karachi to Kashmore, he said, holding the mayor accountable for the disbursement of payments and demanded financial autonomy for local governments.
The MQM delegation departed after a brief media interaction, while the protesting retirees attempted to enter the KMC building but were prevented by security personnel. The demonstration ended without incident.
