Quettaties left on the mercy of Tanker mafia
WASA employees strike continues unabated despite BHC’s orders causing serious water crisis
Water tanker, which previously cost around PKR 2500-3500, is now being sold at inflated rates of PKR 4000-5000.
QUETTA (6 AM Report): The strike of WASA employees continued unabated despite clear orders of the Balochistan High Court.
The suspension of water supply from over 400 tube wells in Quetta has entered fourth consecutive day, causing serious water crises for the residents.
Desperate for relief, residents are pleading with the Chief Minister, Chief Justice, and local authorities to address WASA employees’ legitimate demands and bring an immediate end to the strike, ensuring the resumption of water supply across the city.
The ongoing strike by WASA employees has led to halted water distribution, forcing citizens to turn to the “tanker mafia,” who have drastically raised prices in response to the shortage. A water tanker, which previously cost around PKR 2500-3500, is now being sold at inflated rates of PKR 4000-5000.
The district administration has taken notice of the strike, yet employees remain steadfast, with support from the WASA Employees Union.
On the other hand Provincial Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran took notice of certain tube wells located within private enclosures that fail to supply water to the public, stressing that these tube wells are established for public benefit and should function accordingly.
He directed authorities to compile comprehensive data on all government-installed tube wells across the province, emphasizing immediate action on complaints regarding water access and misuse. He instructed that inactive tube wells should be repaired, and any that are not serving the public or are being misused should be addressed. Minister Khetran reviewed issues surrounding the provision of clean drinking water across the province and issued directives to resolve public complaints swiftly. He instructed relevant departments to create an action plan within a month to rehabilitate inactive tube wells and remove illegal encroachments on government water resources. The minister emphasized that the government allocates resources for tube wells to ensure clean drinking water reaches the people, and any deviation from this goal would not be tolerated.
Additionally, he approved the department’s proposal to assign 25% of WASA staff to handle urgent departmental matters. The action plan will include timelines to ensure implementation and measurable progress on water access issues throughout the province.
