Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah speaks during a press conference on Wednesday. Photo: NNI
KARACHI:
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday reviewed the progress of key water supply projects for the metropolis and directed officials to expedite work and ensure timely release of funds to deal with the worsening water crisis.
The review was done in a high-level meeting chaired by CM Shah and attended by Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah and senior officials of the relevant departments.
Officials briefed the Chief Minister about various initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable and long-term water supply to the metropolis, with special focus on the K-IV Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Project. Under K-IV, Karachi is expected to receive 260 million gallons per day (MGD) of water from Keenjhar Lake. The project, which has been executed by WAPDA since 2020, includes an advanced pressurized pipeline system and extensive expansion works in the city that are currently underway.
CM Shah directed the authorities to immediately finalize the financial mechanism required to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the K-IV system. He was also updated on three major reservoirs planned under the project’s expansion:
R-1 Reservoir (65 MGD): Expected to stabilize supply in Central, Eastern and Western districts including Razzi Goth. R-2 Reservoir (130 MGD): Designed to meet the water demand of a large part of the city.
R-3 Reservoir (65 MGD): Will enhance supply in the western and central corridors and support water flow to the Hub Pumping Station. The meeting was informed that agreements for K-IV grid station and transmission lines have been finalized while the Sindh Cabinet has already approved equity investment and loan financing for the project.
Officials also briefed the Chief Minister about the lining of the Kalri Baghar (KB) feeder canal, a critical component to ensure K-IV’s water quota. CM Shah directed the irrigation department to mobilize machinery and manpower within the limited construction window ahead of the closure of the Kotri barrage in December.
