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KARACHI: Industry leaders have appealed to the prime minister to direct the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to immediately withdraw 81pc increase in water tariff for industrial consumers.
In a letter to the prime minister, the industry leaders who included Irfan Moton, chairmen, SITE Association of Trade and Industry, Abdul Rasheed Fodderwala, chairman, North Karachi Trade and Industry Association, and Ziad Bashir, chairman, Landhi Association of Trade and Industry, drew the attention of the Premier towards the sudden increase of 81pc in the water tariff to Rs215 per 1000 gallons for the current month billing. Until recently they had been paying Rs119 for 1,000 gallons.
They pointed out that water tariff in the Punjab was Rs53 per 1,000 gallons which amounts to discrimination with the city industry.
These leaders stated that tariffs for gas, electricity, petrol and diesel are uniform in all the provinces as well as minimum wages of labour; therefore, why such a discrimination in the price of water.
The city of Karachi, they said is housing around 50 per cent of textile industry of the country and also contributes up to 50 per cent in exports. However, exorbitant and discriminatory tariff of water would destroy the processing textile industry for which water is basic raw material.
They pointed out that up to 2007 water tariff for industrial consumers was Rs73 per 1000 gallons, but within a short period of three years water tariff had been enhanced to Rs119 which stands to 63 per cent hike.
The fresh surge in water tariff has shaken the industry and these leaders termed it to be most exorbitant. They even expressed their utter dismay over the move, particularly when the nod to the increase came from the provincial government.
These leaders urged the Prime Minister to intervene.
