The severe suspension of water supply in Korangi SITE is paralyzing industrial activities across Karachi, leading to factory closures and posing serious threats to export orders and the national economy.
Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said on Monday that the continuous water shutdown due to a dispute between the Water and Sewerage Corporation and sub-soil contractors has forced numerous factories in all industrial zones of the city to partially or completely cease operations.
The KATI president highlighted the growing risk of failing to meet export commitments and a further increase in production costs. He described the situation as a grave crisis for the industrial sector, emphasizing that Karachi is Pakistan’s primary industrial, economic, and commercial hub, contributing immensely to the national revenue.
Rajput issued a stark warning that if the water supply is not immediately restored, the widespread disruption to industrial operations will not only jeopardize foreign trade but also endanger the employment of millions of laborers.
In a direct appeal, he urged Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and the CEO of the Water and Sewerage Corporation to intervene. Rajput demanded an emergency resolution of the dispute to restore water to industrial areas without delay.
He stressed that industries must be guaranteed an uninterrupted supply from all alternative sources, including sub-soil.
The business leader pointed out that industries are already burdened with high costs for water, electricity, and gas, coupled with gas load-shedding that forces a two-day shutdown every week. The additional expense of purchasing water at high prices from tankers has now become a severe threat to the entire industrial production system.
He warned that a failure to ensure the provision of basic utilities would further weaken the industrial sector’s competitiveness and negatively impact the investment climate.
Ikram Rajput concluded that the government must prioritize reducing industrial costs and providing basic facilities to maintain industrial momentum and prevent further damage to the national economy. He said that industrialists are awaiting a prompt and decisive response from the government on this critical issue.