Water shortage in Karachi is damaging the construction industry: Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan

Karachi, May 29, 2015 (PPI-OT): Chairman Junaid Ashraf Taloo, Vice Chairman Muhammad Hanif Memon and Chairman Southern Region Muhammad Hassan Bakshi of Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) expressed their grave concern on the recent water shortage in Karachi and observed this situation is damaging for the construction industry.

Chairman Junaid Ashraf Taloo said the media reports and statements by some politicians indicated that an artificial crisis is created. It is a conspiracy hatched by officials of KW and SB and the tanker mafia which carries out its activities under official patronage. He added that KW and SB terms the non-availability of water due to drying up of Hub Dam, but this is not for the first time.

In the past whenever this happened there was no such scarcity as it is now. Junaid Ashraf Taloo said that Government of Sindh should take immediate measures to complete K-4 Project on war footing. According to media report the federal government initially allocated 9 crores rupees for this project but there is no progress on this project due to non-issuance of funds by the Sindh Government.

The prevailing situation is very critical as citizens of many areas are protesting and before any unpleasant situation arises the government should take immediate measure. The Vice Chairman (ABAD) Muhammad Hanif Memon said that due to negative impact caused on housing and construction industries many residential projects are being delayed due non availability of water.

Completion of project requires water in large scale. The construction cost of builders has increased due increase rate of tankers by tanker mafia. He appealed to the management of KSWB to improve water supply system. Vice Chairman Southern Region Muhammad Hassan Bakshi said that 120 crore gallons of water is daily requirement in Karachi whereas the supply is only 51 crore gallons through water lines, remaining water is supplied through boring and tankers.

It is learnt that incompetent and irrelevant persons are handling the KW and SB valve operation. These people belong to water sale mafia. Corruption is at peak in KW and SB and it is turned into a profitable business. He emphasized that illegal connections, illegal hydrants and transfer of honest and hard working officers must be impartially investigated. A complete survey of water leakage should be carried out to determine improvement in water supply system.

For more information, contact:
S. Javed Jafri
Secretary General – ABAD
Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan
ABAD House, ST-1/D, Block-16, Gulistan-e-Jauhar
Karachi – 75290
Pakistan.
UAN: 111-11-ABAD (2223)
Tel: +92-21-34613645-47, +92-21-34613649
Fax: 021-34613648
E-Mail: info@abad.com.pk – abadsecretariat@yahoo.com
Website: www.abad.com.pk