Over forty-eight industrial units, predominantly from Pakistan’s automotive sector, have approached the Ministry of Industries & Production (MoI&P), Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, the Governor of Sindh, and the Mayor of Karachi. They are pressing for solutions to ongoing issues at the Pakistan Steel Industrial Estate, which houses the Steel Mill Downstream Industrial Units.
In a discussion, industrialists disclosed that the estate had been deprived of water since August 27 due to a dispute over unpaid bills between Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). The arrears amount to about Rs10 billion, and the water will not be restored until these are cleared.
This estate is a critical centre for the automotive sector but struggles with numerous problems. For over a decade, vital infrastructure has not been upkeep, even though the industrial units collectively pay roughly Rs100 million yearly to PSM for maintenance, rent, and varying water and sewerage fees.
Zainul Abidin Sharqi, Chairman of the Downstream Units & Industrial Park Owners Welfare Association, expressed his exasperation, stating, “We are not responsible for the overdue KWSC payments by PSM as we consistently settle our bills. We will continue to fulfil our financial obligations to whichever authority is in charge. Our sole request is for a government body to assume responsibility for the water and infrastructure so that we can pay our dues effectively and guarantee service maintenance.”
The estate hosts over 50 firms, including leading automotive manufacturers such as Pak Suzuki Motors Company Limited (PSMCL), Master Motors Limited, and KIA Lucky Motors. Pak Suzuki Motors notably occupies a 200-acre segment of the total 19,000 acres owned by PSM.
Other prominent businesses include Techno Glass, Alsons Auto Parts Private Limited, and Yousuf Auto Industries Private Limited, highlighting the estate’s importance to Pakistan’s industrial landscape.
