KARACHI (Dunya News) - The Constitutional Bench of the Sindh High Court expressed strong displeasure with officials of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board for failing to supply piped water to residents, noting that the Mayor had previously assured water distribution through official lines.
The hearing concerned a petition filed by a resident of Orangi Town over the non-supply of water to their home.
During proceedings, the court directly questioned the KW&SB Superintendent on why citizens were being denied access and ordered that water be immediately delivered to the petitioner’s residence.
The Water Board’s lawyer cited old pipelines and ongoing electricity load-shedding as obstacles to supply. Justice Adnan Karim Memon responded sharply, instructing officials to repair or replace pipelines and to bear some costs even if it meant minor charges to the public.
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The Superintendent claimed that water supply from the source was also limited. Justice Memon countered by asking why tanker operators were able to supply water across Karachi if piped supply was insufficient. “This proves that water is available, but you are not distributing it through official lines,” he said.
The Superintendent added that tankers sometimes drew water from illegal hydrants.
The court, however, emphasized that legality should not prevent citizens from receiving water at their homes.
Justice Memon directed the suspension of the tanker system and ordered that all residents be supplied through proper pipelines, warning that a strict ruling would follow if these instructions were ignored.