The recent approval of a 23% hike in water and sewerage bills by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), which has now turned into a corporation, is yet another reminder of the disconnect between policymakers and the world around them. The abrupt and substantial rise in water and sewerage bills has been rightfully met with strong opposition and frustration. It is evident that the deteriorating state of water and sewerage services in the city does not align with the justification for such a significant increase.
The decision to raise the bill comes at a time when citizens are already struggling due to high inflation, higher indirect taxes and stagnant wages. Meanwhile, the fact that the KWSB, which is world-famous for its inability to supply water and fares only a little better at the second part of its job, is raising prices has people fairly asking for a justification. As things stand, the board has raised charges by 14% for water and 9% for sewerage. While the increase may not seem high relative to overall inflation, we must remind that most Karachi households receive very little 'line water' and must pay extra for water tankers because the KWSB decided to outsource its responsibilities and never made the infrastructure needed to support the set-up or upgraded the existing water lines to reduce losses. This becomes even more illustrative of negligence when we account for the fact that Karachi receives barely half of the water that experts say it needs to function normally.
Furthermore, the accusation that the board's decision is tied to the repayment of foreign loans raises concerns about the transparency and accountability of such financial dealings. While foreign lenders have called for Pakistani government bodies to balance their budgets, this goal can also be achieved through improving efficiency, rather than squeezing citizens. If anyone needs to be squeezed, it is the tanker mafias and city managers that allowed the situation to degenerate into what we see today.
Read the full story at the express tribune website.
