We the average Pakistanis who live their daily lives struggling to make possible the availability of the very basic needs to push the day through, many a times rant about our difficulties and blame our governments for not lending us a helping hand in any form. Rightfully so, being a Karachite I have to deal with the issue of water rationing for my families’ daily use every single day and this has not changed regardless of who occupies the premiership in Islamabad. There was some relief in this regard during the tenure of General Pervez Musharaf but ever since that era water has been a luxury which is bought at an unregulated price on demand with absolutely zero consumer rights.
The question is, why is this the case? What is it that General Musharaf did different in comparison to his predecessors and / or successors? Generally, the response that one receives is of him having absolute power, this may be true but it is not the whole truth. My conclusion is that General Musharaf had the courage to delegate authority to the local bodies so that the job gets done at the grass root level, something neither of the democratic parties, PPP, PML-N and PTI have failed to do despite being a part of their manifesto.
In a recent podcast former Prime Minister Imran Khan had mentioned that for Karachi to function as a modern city, it would need to have its own Local Government like New York, London, Paris, Tehran and others. It amazes why Ex-Prime Minister has mentioned it after being removed from office, whereas during his tumultuous three and a half years there was no effort from his cabinet to establish any such regime, infact if I may add two ERAs in which Karachi’s water cartel thrived were during the Zardari era and thereafter the ERA of ousted Ex- Prime minister Khan sb.
Karachi has a persistent water crisis something that I have been hearing since my teens to my current early 40s, never have I heard a solution. It amazes how despite this drought like shortage of water every hydrant place in various areas of the city has an over flow of water. Where does this water come from, who pays for it and most of all is it our connection that has been conveniently diverted towards the avenue of these hydrants?
These are genuine questions of the common man and the best part is never ever having there been discussions on these topics at any forum, be it talk shows or even the parliament. All that is ever discussed is how the wolf like west is hell bent on ruining our sheep like innocent nation and country due of our Nuclear Arsenal, seriously it this narrative makes me laugh and cry at the same it.
As a reformative step or should I say optics, a budget was drafted for the resolution of Karachi’s water crisis through the making of a desalination plant, but the conclusion was what I and others like me expected, the project is beyond affordability and the recovery from the project would be in more than twenty years. Well, being an accountant myself I am well aware of the time line and recoveries of projects but don’t you think this mindset is more of the regressive kind where you keep the population deprived so that they keep looking up to you for help despite hatred for your authority.
I totally understand our country’s hatred towards the west, hence reluctance to adopt any of their traits however beneficial they may be. But, what about country’s like the UAE. How do they manage their water, how? UAE is a desert, where cultivation is difficult and so is everything else but have you ever heard of them being hit by a water crisis. I have always been amazed at the fact that did what we are so reluctant to do years and years and years ago. Made a desalination plant and never let the country get hit by a water crisis.
Has anyone in authority ever thought of the drought like situation that our whole country will be facing in the next 20 years. The desalination plant will not only solve the water crisis of Karachi alone infact it can do the same for the whole country. This water can be used for agriculture and other uses where the water level of the ground can be preserved. I seriously do not know exactly what is it that I can do as an individual, I pay my taxes, my bills and even the toll for using the highway. What else can I do, to make those in authority listen? The truth is it is often said that we the Pakistanis in general are only patriotic when we need to fight against India otherwise we are not even close to the definition of Patriotic. But is it also not true that one cares for something that he/she knows is of absolute value and gives a lot in return. That’s the main issue, if those who can decide our fate as Karachites and / or citizens of the Pakistan just give us something material like a solution to the water crisis, the patriotism in return would be at an unbelievable level.