Water shortage halts industrial production in Karachi’s SITE area

KARACHI: Industrial production in the SITE area has come to a standstill due to a four-day suspension of water supply, SITE Association of Industry President Ahmed Azeem Alvi said on Thursday.

In a statement, Alvi highlighted the grave consequences of the water crisis, noting that workers are idle, factories remain closed, and export orders are facing significant delays.

“The factories have been shut down for the past four days, leaving industrialists with no choice but to consider closing industries permanently and laying off workers,” he added.

Addressing the ongoing strike by sub-soil water suppliers, triggered by an operation conducted by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), Alvi stressed the urgent need for uninterrupted water supply. “To run industries, we require water delivered to our doorstep. The KWSC must ensure this supply. We are not concerned with disputes between KWSC and sub-soil water suppliers, which should be resolved amicably without disrupting water delivery to SITE industries,” he added.

He expressed fears over the potential cancellation of export orders secured at Heimtextil, along with the looming threat of massive layoffs, due to the unavailability of this essential industrial resource.

“At a time when Karachi’s industrial sector is already struggling with higher production costs compared to other regions in the country, this apathetic and high-handed behaviour by the authorities involved is set to deal a devastating blow to our already fragile confidence,” Alvi warned.

The SITE Association president urged all concerned authorities -- including Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, the managing directors of KWSC and SITE Ltd, and relevant law enforcement agencies -- to resolve the issue promptly.

“If they are unable to address the problem, they should inform us, so we can explore options for relocating our businesses elsewhere,” he concluded.