Water tankers are reportedly continuing to fill from the Lasbela Canal on an ongoing basis, with sources alleging that water meant for residents of Hub and Gadani is being sold at inflated prices as a result. No official confirmation of the allegations has been issued by the irrigation department or district administration.

According to sources, theft and leakage from the Lasbela Canal mean that the designated volume of water is not reaching the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department's reservoir, which they say is affecting the water supply to Gadani. Separately, direct lines drawn from the canal serve Hub city and its surrounding areas; sources said continuous filling of water tankers from these lines is reducing the volume reaching the city, while silt accumulation in the canal is further affecting water flow.

Sources said the resulting shortage is affecting water supply to Hub  city as a whole, and alleged that a "water tanker mafia" is taking advantage of the crisis by selling water to residents of Hub and Gadani at whatever price they demand. Sources further alleged that the tankers operate with the alleged patronage of irrigation department officials, allowing them to openly fill from the canal and sell the water.

None of these allegations regarding official complicity have been independently confirmed, and no representative of the irrigation department has issued a statement in response.

Members of the public have called on the Deputy Commissioner of Hub to take action against the alleged theft of water from the Lasbela Canal and against the tanker mafia, so that residents of Hub  and Gadani can receive their due share of water without interruption.

No response from the irrigation department or the district administration had been reported at the time of this report.