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KARACHI:Aug 8,2026: Industries in Hub are facing a severe water shortage despite Hub Dam being almost full. Hub Chamber of Commerce & Industry leaders have warned that factories could shut down within weeks if authorities fail to increase water supplies.
Former Hub Chamber President Ismail Suttar and President Yakoob H. Karim have appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for immediate action. They said the crisis now threatens industry, agriculture and local communities.
The chamber leaders said Hub has become Balochistan’s industrial backbone. However, industries are receiving far less water than their current needs. As a result, many factories are operating below capacity, while others have already reduced production.
They warned that prolonged shortages could force more industrial units to close. Consequently, thousands of workers could lose their jobs, while the national economy could suffer major losses.
According to the chamber, Hub contributes more than Rs7 billion annually in taxes. Therefore, continued water shortages could also hurt government revenue, exports, investment and industrial growth.
The leaders also questioned the existing water-sharing formula. Under the current arrangement, they said, Hub receives 36.7% of the available water, while Karachi receives 62.3%.
They pointed out that the formula dates back to the 1980s. At that time, Hub had a population of around 20,000, only five industrial units and nearly 1,000 acres of cultivated land.
Today, however, Hub’s population has crossed one million. The number of industrial units has reached around 300, while cultivated land has expanded to more than 25,000 acres. Despite this growth, the chamber said authorities still follow the decades-old allocation formula.
Meanwhile, Hub Dam is almost at full capacity following recent monsoon rains. The chamber leaders said authorities may have to open the spillway gates again. They described the situation as ironic because excess water could be released from the dam while Hub’s residents and industries struggle for their basic share.
The leaders said industries have faced inadequate supplies for the past two months. In addition, hundreds of thousands of residents are struggling to access drinking water. Many cannot afford expensive private water tankers because a large section of the population lives below the poverty line.
Suttar said the chamber had repeatedly approached relevant authorities. However, he claimed that officials cited the ongoing training of the newly appointed project director.
The chamber has now urged the prime minister to direct Wapda to immediately increase water supplies to Hub. It also called for a complete review of the existing water-sharing formula.
Finally, the chamber demanded a sustainable allocation system based on Hub’s current population, agricultural needs and industrial demand. It warned that without urgent action, the crisis could lead to factory closures, rising unemployment, agricultural losses and a serious humanitarian emergency.
