K-IV project completion likely ahead of deadline
ISLAMABAD: The K-IV project, which will supply water to Karachi from Keenjhar Lake, is expected to be completed by June 2027, nearly six months ahead of the government-set deadline.
This was stated by the Chief Operating Officer of Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), Engr Asadullah Khan, during the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs held under the chairmanship of Senator Saifullah Abro.
He said that Wapda has already laid the transmission line of the K IV project, but the augmentation work has to be done in some densely populated areas where the progress of work is likely to slow down.
He said right now Karachi is getting 600 million gallons of water from the Indus River and 500 million gallons from the Hub Canal against the requirement of 1200 million gallons per day.
He said that once the K IV project becomes operational, the shortage of water for the city would be resolved to a great extent. While elaborating on the salient features of Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP), he apprised the committee that this project comprises three phases and has achieved 77percent overall physical progress to date.
It was informed that the agreement was signed on November 26, 2019, with an implementation period of 12 years. The total cost of the project is USD 1.6 billion, with financing shared as 40percent by the World Bank, 40percent by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and 20percent by the Government of Sindh.
Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, on this occasion, raised serious concerns over the leakage of millions of gallons of potable water at Sohrab Goth, Karachi, and other areas. He said that because of the negligence of KWSC, the wastage level of clean water is 25 percent. Engr. Asadullah admitted that 15 percent of potable water is going down the drain, but added that KWSC is working to reduce the wastage of clean water to less than 10 percent.
Waqar Mehdi emphasised the urgent need to repair leakages to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted water supply to residents of the densely populated city.