KARACHI: As many as 400 industrial units situated at SITE Super Highway Industrial area in Karachi are facing an imminent danger of complete closure due to the persistent water supply crisis in the area for past one month, a press statement issued by SITE Super Highway Association of Industry President of Dr Sheikh Waheed Mangoo on Tuesday said.
“This imminent threat will not just halt industrial activity in the area but it could affect 100,000 workers associated with our industrial units and if such a large workforce is rendered jobless, it will simply create a law and order problem in the city,” he warned.
Dr Waheed said that the present situation persisting in his industrial area negates all the tall claims of provincial and federal authorities concerned of promoting industrialisation and trade in Karachi after restoration of law and order situation.
“Our water supply is virtually disconnected for no fault of ours as we duly paid our water dues to SITE Limited. It is SITE Limited, which did not pass on the same charges to the Karachi Water & Sewerage, which in turn curtailed our water supply,” he said.
“The situation that SITE (Sindh Industrial Trading Estate) Limited is not paying water charges of our industries to the KWSB shows well that there is some serious transparency issue in fiscal affairs of the SITE where embezzlement or misappropriation is being committed at the very cost of survival of industrial units in the city,” said Dr. Waheed.
He appealed to the Sindh governor, chief minister, Local Government minister, Industries and Commerce minister and Karachi’s commissioner to immediately take the required corrective measures and save the situation of SITE Super Highway Industrial area from an utter crash.
“It is simply an issue for our national economy as export orders of billions of rupees could not be readied in time if we continue to face such an alarming situation any further,” he said.
Dr Waheed on behalf of his association sent the other day an emergency appeal to the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board managing director to take measures on a war-footing basis to restore water supply to SITE Super Highway industrial area.
