Water crisis in Karachi has manifolds. First there is major shortage of water availability in the city of more than 25 million habitants. As the city needs 1080 MGD of water daily but gets only 650 MGD, of which a sizable chunk is pilfered. Second the available water in the city is largely contaminated with toxins like high level of lead and other synthetic chemicals causing life-threatening diseases. Third the poor water management specially supply of available water through tankers and carts, which is destroying city infrastructure and endangering human lives. Fourth is the illegal water connections, sales and supply in innumerable residential areas on commercial basis, which is rampant and unchecked. This so-called business of illegal water hydrants in Karachi residential areas harming local environment, causing nuisance in localities and affecting ground water level in the neighborhood.
Pitfalls of Illegal Water Hydrants;
This week, the 84-inche main water supply line at University Road burst up, wasting millions of gallon of water, stopping supply of water the District Central, East and adjacent federal as well as industrial areas. On inquiry by high-ups of Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) it has been revealed that two illegal wolves were holed in the main pipeline for illegal water sale and supply by hydrants or tanker mafia, which couldn’t sustain pressure and blew away the main line. That has drowned more than half of the Karachi University area making education activities inundated for days. The University Road got submerged in water making the commutation difficult which had been already disturbing because of construction of Red Line Bus service since almost five years.
The residents of Gulshan e Iqbal, Scheme 33 and Gulistan e Jauhar are particularly hit by this disaster, facing road congestion, choking sewerage lines, poor air quality and water theft connections. Mayor Karachi and Chairman Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation Barrister Murtaza Wahab admitted himself in 2023 that authorities have identified as many as 270 illegal connections in the 84-inch diameter line that supplies water to Karachi from Hub Dam. These illegal connections lead to significant water theft, estimated at 70 to 80 million gallons per day in Karachi.
The Water Theft Mafia;
The practice of such kind of illegal connections in waterlines is a common practice by water mafia of the city. It is no secret that from engineers to linemen of KWSC and police are in cahoots of water mafia in these illegal activities. The top authorities of KWSC, KMC and Sindh government only wake up when any major crisis surfaces.
More importantly, this practice of water theft connections in the city has given birth to another major mafia in the city, which is selling water and operating it from houses in residential areas on commercial basis. Not only commercial activities in residential areas is illegal but theft of water from KWSC lines or from ground is a serious crime, unnoticed by civic authorities. These illegal water vendors make illegal conduits in KWSC waterlines to steal water or extract it from ground from residential locations to sell the commodity commercially, using pick-ups, carts, hi-roofs and even small trucks for transportation.
It is generally mistaken that water theft conduits are only done in slums in the city. But it isn’t the reality. The fact is this major crime is common even in posh and regularized residential localities in Karachi. The major areas where this crime is in operation are Gulshan e Iqbal, Federal B Area, F C Area, Scheme 33, Saddar, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad and North Karachi.
Commercial Activities in Residential Locations:
Notwithstanding, the Sindh Building Control Ordinance (SBCO) promulgated in 1979 didn’t authorize the change of land use and conversion of residential land as per the original master plan of 1952. Yet, the impugned Karachi Buildings and Town Planning Regulations, (KBTPR) 2002 was unlawfully incorporated for change of land use and commercialization mechanism without proper planning and upgradation of civic infrastructure and amenities. The result, Karachi has become an undecorated victim of commercialization today. In the last two decades, there seems a mushroom growth in Karachi of marriage banquets, malls and shopping plazas, fuel stations and water hydrants on amenity and residential plots, allowed to be converted for commercial purposes.
The defacement of the city’ neighborhoods further extended by encroachments, unregulated shops and unchecked commercial activities in residential areas. In the last week of February 2025, the Director Generals of SBCA and KDA gave assurance before a constitutional bench of the SHC, headed by Justice Agha Faisal that their respective departments were initiating comprehensive proceedings to address illegal utilization of residential premises. But instead of taking actions, in April 2025the SBCA has further amended the KBTPR 2002 under which residential plots can be used for commercial and recreational purposes. Therefore, the illegal practice still proceeds, with and without official consent, largely in a haphazard manner without envisioning their impacts on environment and public health.
Water Theft in Block J, North Nazimabad;
One of the areas, which is badly affected in recent times is North Nazimabad Block J. The locality once famed for places like Masjid e Farooq e Azam, Mumtaz Hospital and Young Fighter Cricket Ground and Fitness Club. But today, it is defaced by wedding banquets, businesses like beauty parlors, real estate agencies and notably illegal water suppliers running from residences. A resident of the area discloses that from a house (A-236, measuring 200 yard) behind Jamia Masjid e Quba, thousands of gallon water are extracted and stolen from KWSC pipeline each day to sell illegally. This illegal conduit and operation not only impacts the water supply to the neighborhood, but also impacting other basic necessities like:
- Damaged Infrastructure: Illegal connection on main pipeline, damage the infrastructure, roads, footpaths and houses as seen in the case of the 84-inch diameter line recent burst-up at University Road.
- Water Shortages: Water theft and line leaks contribute to a water crisis in the areas.
- Quality Concerns: Residents who rely on illegal water sources may face concerns about water quality, even when paying for it.
- Transportation Nuisance: The heavy and light supplying carriers destroy road infrastructure and are reason of traffic problems including vehicles’ emissions, accidents and jamming in the locality.
- Public Health: The health and routines of area residents are being badly affected specially of school going children.
The resident tells that despite several complains to their Town councilor, the issue is unaddressed and unresolved.
Commercial activities in residential areas worsen city’ already weak infrastructure leading to increase in traffic congestion, crime rate, air pollution and human diseases. Yet, this menace stalks throughout the metropolis undauntedly. It is also important to note that, usually illegal commercial activities were limited to main road but now their businesses have now extended to neighborhoods, streets and houses. And, illegal water sellers and operators are the special benefiters of this violation.
By
Editorial, Infocus
