The Sindh High Court (SHC) has trained the bureaucratic and Sindh states to foster a proposition for the making of a significant level board to supervise the endorsement of public and confidential area plans, as well as fundamental conveniences projects. This board would be entrusted with reducing the difficulties looked by Karachi’s residents, guaranteeing better coordination among different offices.
This directive was issued in response to petitions filed by residents seeking an improved water supply via pipelines and challenging the additional fees imposed for water supplied through tankers.
A division bench, led by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, noted that the petitions primarily concerned water shortages in the DHA area. The court highlighted that one of the main reasons for Karachi’s persistent infrastructure problems is the lack of unified oversight, as utility services and departments are managed by both federal and provincial governments, often leading to conflicting policies and overlapping responsibilities.
The SHC observed that while some departments operated under their own bylaws, others had distinct rules, further complicating service delivery. The court instructed both governments to submit a proposal for a higher board that would include all relevant entities responsible for approving development and amenities schemes.
Meanwhile, the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) requested more time to submit a compliance report on previous court orders.
Earlier, the court had emphasized that civic bodies are legally obligated to provide essential services, including uninterrupted water supply, to residents who pay their charges. It encouraged the Karachi Water and Sewerage Company, DHA, and CBC to have joint conversations to further develop the water supply framework through normal pipelines.
The court also mandated that authorities make every effort to continue supplying water to petitioners according to court orders.
Residents had complained that the CBC was charging annual water taxes ranging from Rs2,886 to Rs108,219 for residential properties and Rs4,040 to Rs61,612 for commercial units, despite failing to meet the water demand. They argued that the water tax was being calculated based on property size rather than actual water consumption, with no water meters installed. According to the petitioners, the CBC was only supplying about 30% of the water needed by residents.
