KARACHI: President of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Muhammad Ikram Rajput, has said that the suspension of water supply in several industrial areas of Karachi has severely disrupted industrial production, raising serious concerns about potential economic losses for both the city and the national economy.
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Rajput said that ongoing disputes between the Water and Sewerage Corporation and subsoil water contractors have led to continuous interruptions in water supply, forcing many factories across the city’s industrial zones to operate partially or shut down completely. As a result, export orders are being affected and production costs are rising further, he added.
The KATI president noted that Karachi is Pakistan’s largest industrial, commercial, and economic hub, contributing a significant share to national revenue and exports. However, the lack of a basic facility such as water has pushed the industrial sector into a serious crisis.
He warned that if the water supply is not restored immediately, prolonged industrial shutdowns could not only affect exports but also threaten the livelihoods of millions of workers, causing wider economic repercussions.
Ikram Rajput urged Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, and the relevant authorities, particularly the Chief Executive Officer of the Water and Sewerage Corporation to resolve the issues between the Water Corporation and subsoil contractors without delay and ensure the urgent restoration of water supply to industrial areas.
He further called on the government and senior officials to take immediate steps to guarantee uninterrupted water provision to industries through subsoil sources and other alternative arrangements. He pointed out that industries in Karachi are already facing high costs of electricity, gas, and water, while weekly gas load-shedding has already forced factories to remain closed for two days each week.
The uncertainty in water supply and the need to purchase expensive tanker water have become a serious threat to industrial productivity, he added.
Rajput stressed that unless the availability of essential utilities is ensured, the competitiveness of the industrial sector will weaken further and the investment senario will also suffer. He urged the government to prioritize reducing industrial costs and ensuring the provision of basic utilities so that industrial activity can continue smoothly and the national economy can be protected from further losses.
He said that industrialists across all industrial zones of Karachi are awaiting an immediate resolution of the issue and expect the government to address the matter on an emergency basis.