The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) managing director on Friday to immediately close down all nine private water hydrants operating in the city.
The SHC division bench, comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ghulam Sarwar Korai, also ordered the KWSB managing director to submit a report in the court after the closure of the hydrants and reply on the matter regarding the petitioner’s claims.
Petitioner SM Tariq had submitted that he was allotted a one-year contract for running a water hydrant in Lalazar, Keamari Town in the current year by the KWSB, which was valid until July 2011. However, the plaintiff added, that the KWSB managing director had again issued a new tender advertisement for the same hydrant which was allotted to him.
In his statement, KWSB Managing Director Misbahul Haq stated that 21 official and nine private water hydrants are functioning in different parts of the metropolis.
The respondent, however, could not satisfy the trial court regarding the cancellation of the contract awarded to the petitioner.
The court, meanwhile, directed him to submit his statement detailing the petitioner’s contract as well as the closure of private hydrants in the next hearing.
