Karachiites facing hardship in depositing water bills

Citizens of Karachi are facing hardships in depositing water bills payments issued by the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KW&SB). The KW&SB has started issuing water bills on monthly basis, which are to be paid in banks like payment of other utility bills.
But the number of bank branches authorised to receive payment is too low and scattered at different ends of the metropolis adding to difficulties of the people.
Bank officials are of the view due to non-issuance of notification by the KWSB to them they have no legal obligation to receive water bills from any one.
"I went to various bank branches to pay my water bill but all of them refused to accept it and told me that they have not been notified to accept water bills," a consumer said.
KW&SB managing-director Brigadier Iftikhar Haider told Business Recorder on Friday the board had issued notification to all banks to receive water bills from consumers. "If banks do not receive bills, who will then? Principally, it is the duty of banks to facilitate the public in order to get their bill payments done, instead of refusing them," he added.
Regarding issuance of water bills on monthly basis, Iftikhar said it was initiated as other utility bills are also issued on monthly basis. "Everyone is paying utility bills on monthly basis, why not water bills," he maintained.
During bill payment, consumers suffered at large as only few banks were receiving water bills where consumers have to stand in queues for quite a long time. Reacting to the KW&SB water-billing programme, consumers did not appreciate it and said previous billing system was better and called for its continuation. "Already we are paying several utility bills, and this water bill has increased our worries," they said.
It is for the first time that the KW&SB had issued the water billing on monthly basis, whereas, it is also a unique experience for consumers to find a bank where it could be paid, which for most of the people has proved to be a tiresome job. Consumers have demanded of banks and the KW&SB to make it clear at which bank branch they should pay their bills.