Water Crisis Deepens in Karachi as Residents Forced to Buy Expensive Tankers Amid Heatwave

KARACHI: A severe water shortage has affected several areas of Karachi over the past three days, forcing residents to purchase costly water tankers as soaring temperatures intensify hardships across the city.

According to officials, water supply has been disrupted or significantly reduced due to power outages, load-shedding, and technical faults at pumping stations operated by the city’s water utility.

The crisis, which began ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, has impacted numerous neighborhoods, including Kharadar, Lyari, North Karachi, New Karachi, Korangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and Landhi, leaving thousands of residents struggling to secure adequate water supplies.

With temperatures remaining high, many residents have reported difficulties obtaining water for daily use and have been compelled to rely on private water tankers available at significantly higher costs.

A spokesperson for the water corporation said that electricity disruptions and technical issues at various pumping stations had affected the transmission and distribution of water to multiple parts of the city.

Authorities warned that the supply system could face further pressure if uninterrupted electricity is not ensured for key pumping facilities.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for K-Electric said electricity supply to the Hub and NEK pumping stations had been affected by a cable fault but had since been restored.

The spokesperson further stated that a technical problem had also occurred after Line No. 5 at the Dhabeji pumping station burst. However, the fault was repaired on the same day, and restoration efforts were completed.

Despite these assurances, many residents continue to face water shortages and are urging authorities to ensure a stable supply, particularly during the ongoing hot weather and the upcoming Eid holidays.