Residents blocked the Kohlu-Sibi highway in Balochistan’s Kohlu district in protest against a severe shortage of drinking water, accusing the The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and district administration of failing to address the crisis.
People from several areas, including Mir Hazar Wadh, took part in the protest and suspended traffic on the highway.
The protesters said residents were struggling to meet their basic need for clean drinking water, adding that the relevant authorities had failed to take effective measures despite being repeatedly informed of the situation.
They said officials from the PHED and other institutions had been approached several times prior to the demonstration, but no practical progress had been made, forcing residents to block the highway.
The protesters also alleged that several water bore schemes and other development projects approved under the Balochistan Sustainable Development Initiative had been allocated to a limited number of individuals rather than being used for the wider public benefit.
They said the unequal distribution of the schemes had further deepened deprivation and worsened basic problems in the affected areas.
The protesters demanded immediate action to address the water crisis and ensure the supply of clean drinking water. They also called for transparency and fairness in the distribution of development schemes.