QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court has sharply criticised authorities over worsening water crisis in Quetta, calling the shortage of clean drinking water in Hazara Town and nearby areas a serious administrative failure.
The court ordered the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA), Public Health Engineering Department (PHE), and Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) to take immediate steps to resolve the issue.
During the hearing, officials admitted that several water projects had stalled due to poor funding and departmental mismanagement. They stated that Hazara Town currently receives 700,000 gallons of water daily, even though the system was originally designed for just 260 houses and now serves more than 3,000. Despite a Rs20 billion allocation under the Public Sector Development Programme, progress remains slow.
Water crisis in Quetta and illegal connections
Residents rejected the government’s claims and accused a private water mafia of controlling the supply. They alleged that illegal water connections were being sold for up to Rs40,000, with monthly charges as high as Rs3,000. The court denounced these practices as unlawful and unjust, ordering WASA to terminate all illegal private contracts and restore direct public water supply immediately.
The judges also directed finance and development officials to release funds without delay and to coordinate with QESCO to ensure uninterrupted electricity for tube wells. They instructed the authorities to design new underground reservoirs and solar-powered water systems to meet future demand. The court noted that negligence and lack of coordination had deepened Quetta’s water crisis.
Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail reminded the officials that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental right. He warned that the court would not tolerate any delay or negligence and ordered a detailed progress report by November 6. The court pledged to maintain strict oversight until the water crisis in Quetta is fully resolved.
