KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has failed in collecting bills from the citizens of the metropolis as only 511,422 people pay for the potable water they, Pakistan Today has learnt.
KWSB is a service-based consumer-oriented organisation which is responsible for the production, transmission and distribution of potable water in the city. Managing the sewerage system, developing schemes to cover shortfalls in service and the collection of revenue are also among its responsibilities.
Sources told Pakistan Today that KWSB has divided the city into 18 zones with each being headed by a deputy director who collects the revenue from consumers. However, authorities never tried to improve the collection mechanism, sources added.
It is worth mentioning here that most of the city’s residents do not have access to potable water and they make use of water tankers for which they pay thousands of rupees.
According to KWSB’s collection report, the water body had received a total of Rs429,104,274 from 511,422 citizens in water bill for August. The figures are alarming as the city houses millions of people. The report also said that there are 42,496 consumers in Baldia Town, out of which only 3,030 pay for the water they consume. Similarly, in Bin Qasim Town, 3,006 out of 20,565 consumers pay their bill. Moreover, 11,025 out of 46,681 in Gadap Town, 59,554 out of 118,473 in Gulberg Town, 94,077 out of 213,852 in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, 49,900 out of 144,713 in Jamshed Town, 3,823 out of 43,453 in Keamari Town, 10,144 out of 641,818,5 in Korangi, 6,321 out of 62,016 in Landhi Town, 33,860 out of 125,487 in Liaquatabad, 14,027 out of 96,758 in Lyari, 20,855 out of 85,956 in Malir, 39,860 out of 131, 569 in New Karachi Town, 47,197 out of 108,394 in North Nazimabad, 25,864 out of 124,126 in Orangi, 53,107 out of 277,645 in Saddar, 27,610 out of 88,033 in Shah Faisal Town and 8,162 out of 54,085 in Site Town pay their monthly bills for the water they consume.