Karachi: Water scarcity has emerged as one of the most serious challenges confronting Karachi, affecting millions of households and imposing a growing social and economic burden on the megacity's residents, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor here Sunday. Despite being Pakistan's commercial capital and home to more than 20 million people, Karachi continues to face a chronic shortage of water that is steadily worsening with population growth and urban expansion.
According to Pasban Democratic Party, Karachi's daily water requirement exceeds 1,200 million gallons per day (MGD), while the city receives only around 550 to 650 MGD. This leaves a shortfall of nearly 600 MGD every day, depriving large sections of the population of reliable access to water. The situation provides a windfall for the tanker mafia but is a nightmare for citizens. In many neighborhoods, residents receive water only once or twice a week, while some areas remain largely dependent on private water tankers. Families are forced to store water whenever it becomes available, turning what should be a basic public service into a daily struggle for survival.
Altaf Shakoor highlighted the financial burden on households due to unreliable municipal supplies, with thousands of families compelled to purchase water from private tankers regularly. At a time when citizens are already grappling with inflation, rising utility costs, and economic uncertainty, the additional expense of buying water places enormous pressure on family finances. For many Karachiites, access to water has become an expensive necessity rather than a guaranteed public service.
The crisis also poses serious public health concerns. Limited access to clean water compromises hygiene and sanitation, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases and other health complications. Poor families are often the worst affected, as they have fewer resources to purchase water or install adequate storage facilities.
The crisis is attributed to a combination of factors, including rapid population growth, ageing infrastructure, distribution network leakages, illegal connections, water theft, and decades of underinvestment in water supply systems. Large quantities of water are reportedly lost before reaching consumers. However, a lack of governmental interest is cited as the most prominent reason behind the scarcity.
The K-4 project, aimed at expanding Karachi's water infrastructure, remains a distant dream. Despite major projects being announced over the years, residents face recurring shortages and uncertainty regarding future supplies. Karachi's water crisis is now a major social, economic, and public health challenge. Urgent measures are needed to improve infrastructure, reduce transmission losses, curb water theft, expand storage and treatment facilities, and accelerate the completion of major water supply projects.
As Karachi continues to grow, ensuring reliable and affordable access to water must become a top policy priority. Failure to address the megacity's deepening water crisis will not only affect public health and household finances but also undermine social stability, economic productivity, and the quality of life in Pakistan's largest city. Access to safe and affordable water is a basic human right, Shakoor reminded the government, urging for decisive action.