Industrial production has come to a halt in Karachi’s industrial areas due to the suspension of water supply.
President of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Muhammad Ikram Rajput, said that the disruption of water supply in various industrial zones of Karachi has severely affected manufacturing activities, creating the risk of serious damage not only to the city but also to the national economy. He said that ongoing water outages caused by disputes between the Water and Sewerage Corporation and subsoil contractors are forcing many factories across all industrial zones to shut down partially or completely. As a result, export orders are being affected and production costs are rising further.
The KATI president said that Karachi is Pakistan’s largest industrial, economic, and commercial hub, contributing significantly to national revenue and exports. However, the unavailability of a basic facility like water has pushed the industrial sector into a severe crisis. He warned that if water supply is not restored immediately, industrial shutdowns will not only hurt exports but also put the jobs of millions of workers at risk.
Ikram Rajput appealed to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and the relevant authorities, particularly the CEO of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, to urgently resolve the issues between the Water Corporation and subsoil contractors and restore water supply to industrial areas on an emergency basis.
He said the government and senior officials must ensure uninterrupted water supply to industries through all possible sources, including subsoil water. He added that industries in Karachi are already facing high costs of water, electricity, and gas, while weekly gas load shedding forces factories to remain closed for two days. The uncertainty of water supply and the need to purchase extremely expensive water tankers has become a serious threat to the industrial production system.
He warned that if the provision of basic utilities is not ensured, the competitiveness of the industrial sector will weaken further and the investment climate will also be affected. Ikram Rajput stressed that the government must prioritize reducing industrial costs and ensuring basic facilities so that industrial activity continues and the national economy is protected from further losses. He said industrialists across all industrial areas of Karachi are waiting for an immediate solution and expect the government to resolve this critical issue on an urgent basis.
