Eid with dry taps as Karachi water crisis enters second month

For many families, the festival of sacrifice now means sacrificing sleep to chase tankers, and sacrificing savings to buy water for ritual washings, animal care and sanitation. This is not the first time the city has faced Eid amid a severe water shortage. Residents call it a grim tradition of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) to fail during the city’s most critical moments — Eids, Ramazan, Eid Miladun Nabi and Muharram — when water is indispensable for both ritual and routine. Since late March, a series of line bursts, underground leaks, power breakdowns at pumping stations, and damage to key mains have choked supply across the city, turning routine chores into daily battles. Speaking to Dawn, KWSC Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali, however, maintained that the utility “was ensuring normal supply during Eid”. He blamed K-Electric (KE) and frequent power breakdowns for the disruptions. “KWSC relies on KE for electricity, and those abrupt outages damage main lines, disrupting water supply,” he added. The water utility chief said comprehensive arrangements had been made to ensure an uninterrupted water supply and efficient sewage management during the festive season. He said all executive engineers would remain on standby, with staff and machinery available round the clock. However, the water crisis is set to hit hardest during Eidul Azha, when water demand surges for cleaning, animal care, and sanitation as families prepare