KARACHI: The industrialists and prominent businessmen including Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) CEO SM Muneer, President Federation of Pakistan Mian Muhammed Idrees, Senior Vice-President FPCCI Abdul Rahim Janoo, President KATI Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Chairman Pakistan CNG Association Abdul Sami Khan, Chairman Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association Malik Khuda Buksh, Chairman Pakistan Towels Manufacturers Association Mehtab-ud-Din Chawla, Pakistan Denim Association Ikhtiar Baig, Pakistan Tanners Association Gulzar Firoz, Chairman Federal B Area Industrial Zone Jawed Ali Ghori, Chairman North Karachi Industrial Zone Abdul Rasheed Foderwala and others have strongly expressed their concerned over acute shortage of water supply to the industrial zones of Karachi and demanded of the Sindh government to stop backing tanker mafia.
They warned the government that the industrial associations would launch a massive protest demonstration if serious steps would not be taken to overcome the ‘artificial’ water shortage prevailing in the industrial zones of Karachi.
All the prominent businessmen and office bearers of industrial associations at the meeting held under the chairmanship of S M Muneer decided that a delegation will soon meet with corps commander Karachi Naveed Mukhtar, DG Rangers Bilal Akbar, Chief Minister Sind Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Sind Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan over the said issue and informed the authorities concerned that the allocated share of water for industrial zones is being stolen by the tanker mafia under the patronization of KWSB authorities.
Speaking at the occasion, S M Muneer said that the supply of water to the industrial zones has been reduced significantly and as a result the exports of the country has been declined by 6 percent, however; the provincial government has not yet taken any action in this regard.
The President FPCCI Mian Muhammed Idrees said that the Federation of Pakistan strongly condemned the unavailability of water to the industrial sectors, adding that if the shortage of water would be existed, then it would be difficult to the business community to carry on business in Karachi.
Zubair Tufail said that waste water treatment plants should be installed for recycling of waste water, so that recycled water could be used for industrial consumption adding that the industrial sectors could not able to increase their production due to paucity of water.
Mehtab-ud-Din Chawla said that the provincial government was keeping deaf ear on the complaints lodged by the industrialists regarding the water shortage and not taking the matter serious.
Javaid Ali Ghauri said that the city which provides jobs to millions of people coming from entire Pakistan is being deprived of water and if this problem is not taking seriously then he feared that many industries would be closed and millions of labours will lose their job.
He said that Karachi city is getting 550 MGD against the demand of 1000 MGD adding that around 100 MGD out of total 550MGD is being stolen by tanker mafia.
Rashid Ahmed Siddqui said that all seven associations have given charter of demands on the issues of water scarcity, insufficient infrastructure and depleted condition of roads, but government is not paying any attention in order to resolve these chronic issues.
Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan showed his concern over the non availability of water, which is necessary for the growth of country and economy and this should be address immediately.
