Latest news with #KWSC
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Funding crunch delays K-IV project
Listen to article For years, the K-IV project has been viewed as a lifeline for Karachi's residents suffering from chronic water shortages. Yet it appears that the financial and administrative hurdles plaguing the completion of the project are here to stay for another four to five years. Originally launched in 2016 under the Sindh government and Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) with an initial PC-1 cost of Rs25 billion, the K-IV project aimed to supply 260 million gallons per day (MGD) to Karachi within two years. However, due to severe mismanagement and design flaws, the project was halted in 2018 after achieving only 20 per cent progress. In 2021, the federal government transferred control of the project to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), which redesigned it, inflating the project cost to Rs126 billion. Construction resumed in 2022, with a revised completion target of December 2025. A WAPDA official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that over 63 percent of the project has been completed, however, due to rising construction material costs, an additional Rs30 billion is required. "A revised PC-1 has been submitted to the federal government for approval, but the project has reportedly been downgraded from the government's priority list. Against the remaining Rs40 billion requirement, only Rs3.5 billion has been allocated in the current budget, causing work stoppages on two filtration plants and a major pipeline section, while other components are progressing at a sluggish pace," confirmed the official. Efforts to obtain official comments from WAPDA General Manager (South) and K-IV Project Director Aamir Mughal remained unsuccessful, as repeated attempts to contact his office yielded no response. Reportedly, the core component of the K-IV project involves laying an underground pipeline from Keenjhar Lake to Karachi's Kathore area, supervised by WAPDA. However, three additional critical projects tied to K-IV remain the Sindh government's responsibility. The first project concerns the augmentation plan. This project, financed through a 260 million US dollars World Bank loan, involves laying approximately 100 kilometers of bulk distribution pipelines within Karachi and connecting them to existing pumping stations. Similarly, the power supply project involves installing a 132-kilovolt transmission line from Jhimpir grid station to the K-IV pumping complex near Keenjhar Lake to provide 50 megawatts power, with an estimated cost of Rs16 billion. Lastly, the KB feeder canal lining project, spanning 38 miles, aims to rehabilitate and widen the canal from the Indus river to Keenjhar lake, to ensure full quota delivery. A senior KWSC official anonymously confirmed that while official schedules promised completion of these three projects within two years, actual timelines were expected to stretch much longer due to bureaucratic hurdles, utility shifting delays, and complex technical requirements. Repeated efforts to reach Sindh's Secretary Irrigation, Zareef Khero, for comments remained unanswered, while the concerned Executive Engineer cited his recent appointment as an excuse for his inability to comment at this stage. According to a survey conducted by the Express Tribune, Karachi's daily water requirement stands at 1,200 million gallons, while the city currently receives only 650 million gallons from the Indus River and Hub Dam, leaving a staggering shortfall of 550 million gallons per day. The survey also revealed that the KWSC officials, in alleged collusion with the tanker mafia and illegal groundwater extraction networks, have created an artificial water crisis in several areas, including Clifton, Defence, Gulshan-e-Iqbal (13D-2, 13D-3), North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, and PECHS. Despite the critical importance of the K-IV water project to Karachi's future water security, bureaucratic inefficiencies, lack of political will, and severe underfunding continue to jeopardize its timely completion.
Express Tribune
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Inter-Academy Basketball from July 18: KBBA
The Karachi Basketball Association (KBBA) has announced that its Inter-Academy Basketball Tournament will be held from July 18 to 25 at the International Abdul Nasir Basketball Court, Arambagh. This tournament marks the culmination of the KBBA Summer Girls and Boys Basketball Camps. KBBA President Ghulam Abbas Jamal Chaudhry Advocate stated that six boys' and six girls' teams have been formed from the camp participants and will take part in this exciting tournament. To oversee the event, a special organizing committee has been constituted, led by KBBA Treasurer Amir Sharif, with Camp Commandant Haji Muhammad Ashraf Yahya, and coaches Engineer Zain-ul-Abideen Channa and Raj Kumar Lakhwani as members. KBBA Secretary Zahid Malik has been directed to finalize and submit the names of the 12 participating teams by July 14, so the team rosters can be officially announced at the closing ceremony on July 15 and shared with the media. Meanwhile, the KBBA extended heartfelt thanks to Managing Director of KWSC, Ahmad Ali Siddiqui, for generously donating basketballs to the camp players. "This thoughtful contribution has significantly encouraged the young athletes," the KBBA said. In a further gesture of support, former KBBA President Ghulam Muhammad Khan has announced sponsorship of the Ilyas Shakir Performance Awards for the four best players of the camp. These awards will be presented by Asad Shakir, Chief Commercial Officer of the Qaumi Akhbar Group, in recognition of outstanding talent and performance.
Business Recorder
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Business Recorder
Prolonged power outage exacerbates water ‘crisis': KWSC
KARACHI: Karachi is facing a severe water shortage as prolonged power outages have crippled key water supply infrastructure. A spokesperson for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) confirmed that an outage that began at 10 pm on June 26 at the Dhabeji pumping station has persisted for over 60 hours. The fault has yet to be resolved, resulting in a shortfall of 220 million gallons of water to the city during this period. The power failure has had a cascading effect on various KWSC installations, including the North East Karachi Old Pump House. The shutdown of this facility, located downstream of Dhabeji, will impact water supply to parts of Scheme 33. Additionally, two pumps at the K-III pump house are currently inactive due to the ongoing power disruption, further exacerbating the water crisis.
Express Tribune
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
KMC session over water crisis ends in slugfest
A special session of the Karachi City Council was convened at the KMC Headquarters to discuss the debilitating water crisis in the metropolitan city. Attendees at the meeting, chaired by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, included both treasury and opposition members, as well as senior officials from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). The session, which lasted over two and a half hours, focused on pressing concerns related to water shortages, poor distribution, water theft, and institutional inefficiencies. The meeting was adjourned by the mayor and will reconvene on Friday. Despite assurances of attendance, KWSC CEO Ahmed Siddiqui and COO Asadullah Khan did not show up in the session due to recent Sindh High Court orders revoking their appointments. Their absence drew concern from several council members. A contentious moment arose during the meeting when Mayor Wahab asked KWSC Chief Engineer (Bulk) Syed Ijaz Ahmed to leave, stating that he was not the appropriate official for the discussion. This move was strongly objected to by opposition leader Saifuddin Advocate, who deemed it disrespectful and inappropriate. Many council members expressed surprise, especially as another senior KWSC official, Chief Engineer (Distribution) Muhammad Ali Sheikh, remained present without being questioned. The incident led to accusations of political bias and undue targeting of officials. PPP leader Najmi Alam criticised the KWSC's operational structure and revenue generation. He proposed dividing the utility into three administrative zones with designated officers to enhance efficiency. Alam highlighted that despite leasing rights being granted to numerous informal settlements, proper billing procedures are not in place. He noted that KWSC generates only Rs600 million in revenue, with 400 vacant positions and widespread unauthorised water connections, particularly in District West. During the session, Shahid Farman, Chairman of the Union Council in Karachi Admin Society, made serious allegations against Farhan Ghani, Chairman of Chanesar Town and brother of Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani. Farman claimed that Ghani was shielding water theft in his jurisdiction and that KWSC staff had admitted being unable to act due to political interference. This accusation sparked a heated exchange with PPP council members, which Mayor Wahab eventually calmed. The city mayor acknowledged that water theft, particularly from the K-III supply line, remains an issue. However, he claimed that efforts are ongoing to curb the problem. He also presented a comparison between KWSC and K-Electric customer bases, noting that KWSC has only 1.4 million registered customers, compared to 3.8 million for K-Electric. He stated that only half a million water consumers are billed, and an even smaller fraction actually pay their dues. Since taking office, the mayor said the KWSC's revenue has increased from Rs1.1 billion to Rs1.8 billion, but the funds are largely consumed by operational and maintenance expenses. Meanwhile, outside the KMC Headquarters, retired employees staged a protest demanding payment of pensions and arrears pending for over a decade. The demonstrators chanted slogans against the mayor and the Sindh government, calling attention to their prolonged financial hardships. A delegation from the MQM-Pakistan, led by opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khursheedi, joined the protest in solidarity. The issue of unpaid pensions affects retirees across all local government bodies, from Karachi to Kashmore, he said, holding the mayor accountable for the disbursement of payments and demanded financial autonomy for local governments. The MQM delegation departed after a brief media interaction, while the protesting retirees attempted to enter the KMC building but were prevented by security personnel. The demonstration concluded peacefully.
Business Recorder
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
TP-1, TP-3: SAI team witnesses KWSC's recycled water initiative
KARACHI: A delegation from the SITE Association of Industry (SAI), led by its President Ahmed Azeem Alvi, visited the TP-1 and TP-3 recycled water treatment plants in the SITE industrial area to review the progress of the reclaimed water initiative spearheaded by the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). The delegation included Chief Coordinator Saleem Parekh, Former President Muhammad Kamran Arbi, APTPMA Zonal Chairman Anwer Aziz, Executive Committee Members Ahmed Zulfiqar Chaudhry and Muhammad Kamran Lakhany, as well as Muhammad Altaf Sheikhani. Irshad Hussain of Pak-Oasis also joined the visit and Dr Muhammad Bashir Lakhany of Techno Consult International. President SAI expressed strong appreciation for the leadership and vision of Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, whose proactive approach to addressing the city's water challenges is beginning to bear fruit. He lauded the Mayor's commitment to transforming SITE into an environmentally responsible and water-resilient industrial zone. During the visit to TP-3, the delegation observed that the plant is currently treating 35 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) of wastewater before safe discharge into the sea — a major step towards preserving marine and environmental health. The Mayor's vision to utilize recycled water for industrial use was recognized as a forward-looking strategy that will ensure both sustainability and self-sufficiency for industries in SITE. Special commendation was also extended to KWSC CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui for his tireless efforts in implementing the Mayor's vision. His technical leadership and operational execution have been instrumental in driving the recycled water project forward. The delegation was also briefed on the pilot project for producing industrial-grade treated water from discharged effluent. Discussions were held on the expected timeline, supply mechanisms, and future expansion plans. The SITE Association also extends its deepest appreciation to Chief Minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, for his unwavering support and strategic leadership in driving this crucial initiative. His commitment to improving Karachi's infrastructure and addressing industrial needs through sustainable solutions has played a pivotal role in enabling projects like the recycled water initiative to take shape and deliver impact. Under his guidance, inter-agency coordination and long-term planning have received a much-needed boost, paving the way for a more resilient and eco-conscious industrial ecosystem. Alvi remarked, 'The future of the SITE industrial area is promising. Thanks to the recycled water initiative, we are moving toward long-term water security. We deeply appreciate the dynamic leadership of Barrister Murtaza Wahab and the capable stewardship of Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, along with the dedicated teams at KWSC, for turning this vision into reality.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
