Residents of Pasni, a tehsil in the Gwadar district of Balochistan, staged a protest against the persistent water shortage in the area. The demonstration, predominantly led by women, caused a temporary halt to traffic as they gathered in front of the Assistant Commissioner’s office in Pasni.
The protesters voiced their grievances over the ongoing water crisis that has been plaguing the city, demanding immediate restoration of the water supply. They attributed the shortage to the disconnection of electricity to water supply stations of Department of Public Health by QESCO Pasni, the local electricity provider, citing non-payment of substantial bills as the reason.
According to the demonstrators, the inaction of both QESCO Pasni and the Department of Public Health has left residents without water for over a week. The situation has forced the populace to rely heavily on water tankers for their daily needs, significantly disrupting everyday life.
Faheem Ali Johar, the Vice Chairman of the Municipal Committee Pasni, echoed the sentiments of the protesters. He described the situation as an artificial water crisis, adversely affecting the residents and stated that the issue has reached a critical point. Johar expressed concerns about the dependency on water tankers and highlighted the urgency of resolving the crisis.
He warned of escalating protests involving local councillors if the situation remains unaddressed. Johar called for immediate government intervention to mediate between QESCO Pasni and the Department of Public Health and to formulate a long-term solution for water provision in the area.