Karachi gets closer to getting a basic right fulfilled

With work on K-IV bulk supply project finally starting, water-starved citizens can at least hope for a better summer in 2018

Karachi 

The groundbreaking of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply K-IV project’s first phase, through which the city would be supplied 260 millions gallons per day (MGD), was performed at a ceremony held off the Super Highway on Sunday.

Scheduled to be completed in two phases by 2018, the Rs15.25 billion K-IV project, 50 percent cost of which is being borne by the federal government, will enable the provision of 520 MGD water to the city.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said water shortage in Karachi was one of the city’s biggest problems and that was why the provincial government had launched the project on a priority basis.

"But this is not enough to overcome the problem. I promise that the second phase of the K-IV project will be launched on the next August 14 so that 260 MGD more water can be provided to the city,” he added.

Shah said when he was the provincial finance minister, he had allocated enough funds for the K-IV project because it dated back 2007 but was kept being put on the back burner.

He added that former chief minster Qaim Ali Shah had also given special attention to the project.

"We all, including former local government minister Sharjeel Memon and the incumbent one Jam Khan Shoro, as well as the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board had decided to award the contract of the K-IV project to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO),” he noted.

In fact, he further said, former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah had also relaxed the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules to award the contract to the FWO.

The chief minister vowed that the project would be completed within two years.

As part of the project, the FWO will construct a 75-km gravity canal system, two pumping stations, four filtration plants and four storage lagoons. The water would be acquired from Keenjhar Lake.

Shah also thanked the federal government for providing 50 percent of the project’s cost.

He said the provincial government had given its land and resources for the project and appreciated the efforts of the officers who had worked hard to approve its plan.

The chief minister said a Rs10 billion Karachi package had also been launched. “Of the 19 schemes in the package, 14 have been approved. The others will be approved soon.”

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad, who was also there, appreciated the collective efforts of the provincial government and the officers of the water board. He thanked FWO DG Major Gen Afzal for starting the project. "This project has been pending for a long time, but finally been launched now.”

The governor also appreciated the efforts of the law-enforcement agencies, particularly of Rangers, for restoring peace in Karachi.

The FWO DG in his speech highlighted the scope of the K-IV project and vowed to complete it within two years.

Provincial ministers Nisar Khuhro and Jam Khan Shoro, Rangers DG Major Gen Bilal Akbar, additional chief secretary (Dev) Mohammad Waseem, and KWSB MD Misbahuddin were also present at the ceremony.

Mazar-e-Quaid

Earlier, the chief minister, the governor, and members of the provincial cabinet visited the Mazar-e-Quaid for an Independence Day ceremony there.

The chief minister hoisted the national flag. Later, they laid floral wreaths on the grave of the Quaid-e-Azam and offered Fateha.