KARACHI - The supply of drinking water through tankers has been suspended for years in centuries-old fisher villages in the metropolis, TheNation has learnt. According to details, Mubarak Village, Kakah Village and other parts of the coastal belt have been facing shortage of drinking water for the past two years due to suspension of water tanker service in the village. The villagers said that they fetch water from far away through tanker because villages does not has government water supply scheme. Women and children have to walk long distance to fetch health hazard water from ponds and nearby village. It is learnt that Public Health Engineering Department had provided a tanker to the villagers in 1996 for providing water to them. The tanker was being operated by villagers on community basis. The community was providing fuel and salaries to driver. Two years ago, the tanker had a problem with its engine and tank. Muhammad Raheem, 55, resident of Mubarak Village, have complained that in several time the community people had approached the concerned officials for repairing the tanker but they did not pay any attention. The broken tankers cost was cheaper than private tankers. Nowadays, the villagers are getting water from private tankers, which is very expensive. The fishermen cannot afford to buy water from private tankers. During the survey, hundreds of women and children were carrying pots on their heads, fetching hazards water from ponds and wells. People have complained that they were suffering from different diseases including stomach and kidney problems. There is no health facility. People have to go to the city for treatment in private hospitals. Fishermen have urged the government to take necessary action and asked the officials to repair the broken water tanker.