KARACHI:
For millions of Karachi residents struggling with chronic water shortages, the long-awaited K-IV project was supposed to be the solution. Instead, two decades after it was first conceived, the mega water supply scheme remains mired in delays, rising costs and unfinished infrastructure, with officials now indicating completion could still be at least three years away.
Senior officials of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) have acknowledged that the federal government’s December 2026 target, at the current pace of work, is looking increasingly unrealistic. According to officials and project sources, it is more likely that the project will be completed by early 2029, provided there are no further delays.
Karachi currently requires approximately 1.2 billion gallons of water per day but receives only about 650 million gallons, leaving a significant supply gap. The K-IV project was conceived to help bridge this deficit by bringing additional water from the Keenjhar Lake to the city.
The project was formally revived in 2014 as a joint initiative of the federal and Sindh governments, with an estimated cost of Rs 25 billion. But repeated design revisions, administrative hurdles and shifting government priorities have significantly delayed progress. Today, the project’s estimated cost has risen to approximately Rs.224 billion, with officials warning that further increases remain possible.
Sources told The Express Pakinomist that the strengthening work between Nipa Chowrangi and Hassan Square, a stretch of only 2.7 kilometers, began in November 2025 but is yet to be completed. Officials note that this is only the initial phase of the project, while the most challenging component – the construction of the R-1, R-2 and R-3 distribution corridors – has not even begun.
More significantly, contracts for these major pipeline segments have yet to be awarded.
According to project documents, the R-1 corridor will stretch 26 km, R-2 about 40 and R-3 about 28 km, bringing the total length of new distribution pipelines to about 94 km. These routes will pass through some of Karachi’s busiest urban corridors and densely populated neighborhoods.
Project sources estimate that laying the R-1, R-2 and R-3 pipelines alone will cost around Rs 80 billion. About 80 percent of this amount is expected to be financed through loans from international financial institutions, while the Sindh government will provide the remaining 20 percent. The rest of the project – including transmission infrastructure, pumping stations, filtration plants and associated facilities – is estimated to cost approximately Rs 124 billion.
Under the project framework, the federal government is responsible for constructing the transmission system, pumping stations and filtration facilities, while the Sindh government is tasked with acquiring land, reinforcement works, power supply and irrigation-related infrastructure required to facilitate water supply from Keenjhar Lake. Officials warn that the most disruptive phase of the project is yet to come. Installation of the 72-inch and 96-inch diameter pipelines will require extensive excavation along several major roads and thoroughfares across Karachi, potentially causing significant traffic congestion and disruption for commuters.
One of the key routes, the R-2 Corridor, is planned to run from the Northern Bypass Toll Plaza along the Super Highway, through Jangal Goth, Sohrab Goth, Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, Disco Bakery, Gulshan Chowrangi, Rab Medical Center, Sir Syed University and Nipa Chowrangi before connecting with the Reinforcement Line, Liqua-Bad, and Liqua-Bad Square. Nazimabad, Habib Bank Chowrangi and ultimately reaches Gulbai.
Sources further claim that parts of the ongoing reinforcement work have faced quality-related concerns from international financiers.
A senior KWSC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said work on the city’s primary water distribution network has yet to begin and contracts remain pending. “If progress continues at the current pace, completion by 2029 is possible. However, any further delays could push the timeline even further.”
Once completed, the K-IV project is expected to supply an additional 250 million gallons of water per day to Karachi, increasing total daily availability to approximately 900 million gallons. Even then, experts estimate the city could still face a shortfall of between 300 and 400 million gallons a day.
A senior minister in the Sindh government acknowledged that repeated design changes and escalating costs have complicated implementation, and warned that several difficult stages of the project still lie ahead before Karachi can finally receive the extra water it has been waiting for for decades.
