Quetta – The failure of the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) has paved the way for private tanker operators to dominate the city’s water supply system, causing severe problems for citizens.
Around the world, tractors are used exclusively for agricultural purposes, but in Pakistan—particularly in Balochistan—they are widely employed for private water distribution in urban neighborhoods.
In the provincial capital Quetta, tractors have become the primary source of water delivery.
Unlike other cities where proper water tankers are used, here tractors fitted with makeshift tanks roam the streets, often operated by untrained or underage drivers without licenses.
Many of these operators are foreign migrants, creating both traffic congestion and public safety hazards.
Tragically, fatal accidents—especially involving children being run over by tractors—have become a frequent occurrence.
Beyond road safety, the noise and smoke from tractor engines add to the city’s pollution problems.
Due to the provincial government’s negligence and WASA’s incompetence, households in Quetta are deprived of proper water supply, forcing people to rely on tractor tankers.
This misuse has also driven up tractor prices, harming the agriculture sector.
Citizens demand that the provincial government impose an immediate ban on using tractors for non-agricultural purposes, while traffic police, the district administration, and particularly Deputy Commissioner Mehrullah Badini must take serious action to address this growing crisis.
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Ensuring public safety and restoring order to Quetta’s water supply system has become a pressing need.
