For decades, Karachi’s citizens have been forced to live under the shadow of an exploitative water economy – one controlled not by the state, but by illegal mafias. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s latest promises of “zero tolerance” towards illegal hydrants and tanker operators sound reassuring, but they are far from new. Hydrant demolitions and a few arrests have been made time and again, yet the tanker mafia continues to flourish.
The facts presented to the CM at a recent high-level meeting were designed to impress – illegal hydrants demolished, FIRs registered, arrests made and QR codes introduced for registered tankers, generating additional revenue for KWSB. But the reality on the ground tells a different story. Citizens are still forced to buy overpriced tanker water. The mafia, often operating with the tacit support of corrupt officials, adapts quickly to each crackdown.
Once the spotlight fades, the hydrants reappear and business resumes as usual. The root cause is structural and governance failure. Karachi’s population has ballooned beyond 20 million, yet its outdated water infrastructure continues to creak under pressure. KWSB is politicised, inefficient and riddled with corruption. Projects like the K-IV scheme, meant to increase water supply, have been delayed for years due to bureaucratic incompetence. In this vacuum, mafias fill the gap, charging citizens thousands of rupees for a basic necessity that should be provided by the state.
If the government is serious about ending Karachi’s tanker tyranny, three reforms are urgent. First, depoliticise and professionalise KWSB. The utility must be restructured with independent management, third-party audits, and performance-based accountability. Second, establish a Karachi Water Regulatory Authority, separate from KWSB, for strategic oversight. Third, invest in the long-delayed water project and modernise distribution through digital monitoring systems. It’s time to walk the talk.
