KARACHI: Industries in the Hub area are on the brink of shutdown as a severe water crisis intensifies, despite the Hub Dam nearing full capacity. Leaders from the Hub Chamber of Commerce and Industry have issued an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging his intervention to prevent a looming industrial, agricultural, and humanitarian crisis.

According to Hub Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the water supply to industries, farmers, and residents has been insufficient, threatening to halt industrial operations and jeopardize thousands of jobs. The chamber leaders stressed the vital role Hub plays as the industrial backbone of Balochistan, contributing over Rs7 billion annually in taxes. They highlighted that the current water allocation system, established in the 1980s, no longer aligns with the region's expanded population and industrial growth, which now includes approximately 300 industrial units and over 25,000 acres of cultivated land.

The chamber criticized the allocation of water, which provides only 36.7 percent to Hub, while Karachi receives 62.3 percent. They emphasized that, despite monsoon rains potentially causing the Hub Dam's spillway gates to open, industries have been operating below capacity due to inadequate water supply. The leaders urged the federal government to revise the outdated water-sharing formula and ensure water distribution that reflects current demands and demographics.

Ismail Suttar and Yakoob Karim, representing the chamber, warned that without immediate corrective measures, Hub could face an industrial crisis, widespread unemployment, and a serious humanitarian emergency. They called for a sustainable allocation mechanism and immediate action from Wapda to alleviate the water scarcity impacting the region.