The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), backed by Pakistan Rangers Sindh, on Wednesday launched a sweeping operation against water theft in Sohrab Goth and surrounding areas, demolishing two illegal hydrants, disconnecting multiple unauthorised water connections and arresting one suspect as part of an intensified campaign to protect the city’s water supply network.
KWSC officials said that the joint operation was carried out by its Revenue Protection and Enforcement Cell (RPEC) alongside Pakistan Rangers’ 72 Wing in several locations falling under the Hub Trunk Main (HTM) Division.
In Ayub Goth, officials dismantled an illegal hydrant allegedly operated by a man identified as Salman. Authorities disconnected all unauthorized water connections linked to the site, sealed the premises and arrested the suspect during the operation. Enforcement teams also confiscated a 30-kVA generator, a 10-horsepower submersible pump, two electrical control boards and pipelines of varying sizes used to extract water illegally.
A separate raid targeted another illegal hydrant reportedly managed by a man named Imran in the same locality. Officials removed unauthorised wells and water connections while seizing additional pumping equipment, electrical boards and pipeline infrastructure installed for illegal water extraction.
The operation also focused on the city’s main transmission network. Five illegal tapping points connected to the 84-inch-diameter main water supply line in Ahsanabad were removed after authorities found that two-inch pipelines had been installed to siphon water directly from the trunk line.
The illegal tapping points were located in SUPARCO Society, East City Hospital, Pakistan Television Cooperative Housing Society, Ahsanabad Cooperative Housing Society and Khayaban Patni Housing Society. All unauthorised installations were sealed on-site.
In another action, teams disconnected two illegal four-inch water connections that had been taken from the 18-inch Sohrab Goth main line in Dars Sana Quetta Town 3-A. KWSC officials said the consumer associated with the illegal connections owes nearly Rs20 million in outstanding dues, adding that legal proceedings had been initiated to recover the amount.
According to KWSC officials, the joint campaign resulted in the demolition of two large illegal hydrants, the removal of five illegal tapping points and the disconnection of numerous unauthorised water connections. Authorities also seized one generator, two submersible pumps, four electrical boards and approximately 295 feet of pipeline used in water theft operations. KWSC officials said the operation secured both the 84-inch Hub Trunk Main and the 18-inch Sohrab Goth transmission line from illegal interference, describing the crackdown as part of broader efforts to curb organised water theft and ensure fair distribution of water across Karachi.
The corporation said similar enforcement operations will continue without interruption and warned that individuals involved in water theft and illegal hydrants would face strict legal action.
