KWSB-KESC tussle: cut in water supply hits export units

A majority of industrial units, including export-oriented ones, are not getting sufficient water because of an ongoing tussle over payment of dues between Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). Even export-oriented industrial units are not exempt from the shortage, incurring huge losses on account of non-fulfilment of export orders.
Industrialists said that their cost of production, which was already higher than their regional competitors, increased manifold if they bought water from the tanker mafia. Lashing out against the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), an industrialist said that it was not serious in overcoming water shortage in industrial areas, particularly textile processing units, which consumed bulk water.
Industrialists frowned at water trickling in factory lines under very low pressure and urged the authorities concerned to mitigate the situation and resume supply of water at the earliest so that industrial production might not suffer. They said industrial zones were now facing perpetual drought and industries earning foreign exchange, including textiles and leather, were under threat. They pointed out that the water they were now consuming was coming out of boring wells. They said it was untreated, hard and spoiled the quality of leather being processed. They insisted that high quality leather processing required for exports needed soft and clean water.
The acute shortage of water supply was compelling a large number of export-oriented units to close down, lamented M. Jawed Bilwani, the chairman of the Pakistan Apparel Forum. In a fervent appeal to Governor of Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad and Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, he stated that urgent steps were needed to ensure that adequate water supply was restored. Almost 50 percent of the country's total exports originate from Karachi, earning as much as $12 billion.
Exporters, he said, were battling for survival in the global market with great competition from countries like Bangladesh and India. He feared that a number of their units were at the verge losing a large number of orders. It is imperative, he said, that KESC and KWSB should be advised to settle their issues forthwith and resume water supply, saving a large number of jobs.