By Aslam Shah
KARACHI: The Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has suspended the operating licences of all subsoil water companies over unpaid tax dues, launching a city-wide inspection of bore lines with the support of the Rangers, officials said.
The move comes after a three-month revenue dispute, with Rs160 million billed in December alone to 73 companies, while invoices for January and February are expected to follow. The sale and management of subsoil water has now been placed under the corporation’s Revenue Resources Group (RRG).
Authorities allege that office-bearers of the Subsoil Water Association siphoned water from Karachi’s main supply lines. Multiple FIRs have been registered, and machinery, motors, and hose pipes used in illegal operations have been seized. Across Karachi’s seven districts, over 1,600 cases are under adjudication, many set to be heard by a newly established special tribunal under the Water Corporation Act 2023. The tribunal, inaugurated on 26 January by the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, is supported by water and sewerage experts.
Senior Director Nisar Magsi said all subsoil companies have been ordered to deposit tax revenues and submit detailed lists of client factories. Rangers-assisted inspections of bore lines are ongoing, with 350 sealed bores under investigation and a ban imposed on unauthorised drilling. Officials reported that declared subsoil revenue has dropped to Rs17 million despite nearly 70 licensed companies operating in the city.
KWSC alleges that while 70 companies hold licences for 594 bores, more than 1,200 bores are operational, with illegal extraction generating an estimated Rs10 billion annually. Areas including Korangi, Landhi, Bin Qasim, Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, and surrounding industrial zones were identified as hotspots for water theft. Officials also raised concerns over alleged inaction and collusion within the Anti-Theft Cell and Subsoil Water Department, claiming that influential operators have previously avoided prosecution.
Critics have questioned the oversight role of the KWSC Board, describing it as largely ineffective and lacking active supervision. Observers warn that without stronger governance and accountability, administrative crackdowns may not deliver lasting reform, leaving Karachi residents to face water shortages, inflated tanker prices, and mismanagement.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced that water theft cases would be re-presented before the new tribunal. The appointment of a new Chief Security Officer is imminent, with three finalists selected from 32 applicants. Officials emphasised that decisive institutional reform and accountable leadership are critical to breaking the grip of entrenched interests in Karachi’s subsoil water sector.
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