KARACHI: A severe water shortage has hit Karachi’s Federal B Area, a major industrial and export zone, following the disconnection of underground water connections by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). This sudden disruption has caused significant setbacks in industrial operations, halting production for two days.
Sheikh Muhammad Tahseen, President of the Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI), explained that up to 89% of the area’s water supply was previously sourced from underground systems. However, the shutdown of three key underground water lines has forced industries to seek alternative water sources, leading to severe operational challenges.
The situation has been compounded by a daytime ban on water tanker operations, preventing factories from securing emergency water supplies during crucial working hours. This restriction has especially impacted day shifts, disrupting productivity.
Federal B Area houses over 70% of Karachi’s export industries. The water shortage not only threatens to halt industrial production but could also have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan’s export sector and broader economic health.
Tahseen has called on federal, provincial, and local governments to intervene immediately, stressing that any further delay will lead to extensive damage to industrial output and economic stability.
