Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has announced a major policy shift aimed at dismantling what he described as the city’s “tanker mafia”, declaring that all water hydrants and tanker-based distribution will be phased out and replaced with a direct pipeline supply system.
During a briefing with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) on Tuesday, Wahab directed officials to gradually shut down the city’s seven functional water hydrants.
“All water hydrants in Karachi will be phased out and water supply will be provided through proper water lines instead,” he said.
“Residents should receive water at their doorsteps through improved infrastructure rather than relying on costly and temporary tanker services,” the mayor added.
Despite the hydrants generating around Rs300 million in monthly revenue, Wahab said their contracts expired last year and the administration would not renew them.
“Tanker-based supply is neither sustainable nor fair to citizens,” he said.
To manage water shortages during the transition, Wahab said the city would introduce an alternating-day water supply schedule for different areas.
Experts believe up to 30% of Karachi’s water is being stolen through illegal hydrants operating with the covert backing of influential political elements and a complicit bureaucracy.
“The tanker mafia is looting the city’s water,” Wahab said, adding that the new policy aims to end this practice permanently.
Earlier, he also met a delegation from the Controller General of Accounts to discuss wide-ranging administrative reforms at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).