- By Surarika Das
- Sat, 30 May 2026 02:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Karachi is facing a severe water crisis, with around 70 per cent of the city's population experiencing frequent water disruption accompanied by sky-high temperatures. The shortage has a deeper connection with the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, which has been put on hold since last year and has further worsened the situation.
After the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, India declared it would put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. Under the agreement, Pakistan was mandated to receive water from the western rivers—Indus, Jhelam, and Chenab. At present, the supply remains suspended.
Residents Rely On Private Water Tanks
The crisis, however, is not just connected to the Indus Treaty but also involves internal failures. Karachi's water crisis has increased rapidly over the years due to population growth, ageing pipelines, poor urban planning, and incomplete infrastructure projects.
The financial capital presently requires over 1,080 million gallons of water daily for its nearly 30 million residents but faces a daily shortfall of over 400 million gallons, ARY News reported.
The city depends on sources including Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake, Hub Dam, and Dumlottee wells, but the supply has failed to keep pace with rising demand.
The situation has further deteriorated to an extent that residents have been forced to rely on private water tankers. The worst-hit areas include Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Azizabad, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, and North Karachi. These places have been facing an acute water shortage for the past two weeks.
What Did The Opposition Say?
The water crisis has led to a political row. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has criticised the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led Sindh government of failing to address Karachi’s chronic water shortages despite being in power in the province for nearly two decades.
At the Eid celebrations, Rehman launched a staunch attack on the PPP party, accusing it of failing to address the shortage of water. Rehman blamed the Sindh government of failing to solve the water crisis in Karachi even after being in power for almost two decades.
The Jamaat chief also slammed the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, adding that the body failed to provide proper sanitation and disposal of animal waste, even after receiving a big budget. The Jamaat chief also rejected the claims by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab that the city was not facing a shortage.
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