Karachi, Justice (R) Maqbool Baqir, the Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, has sanctioned Rs 16 billion for various water supply and treatment projects in Karachi, marking a significant investment in the city’s infrastructure.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the funds are allocated for essential development schemes, including the 65 MGD Additional Supply Scheme, TP-1 and TP-3, and a 10 MGD water supply scheme. The Chief Minister instructed the finance department to expedite the necessary paperwork and release the funds for these projects during a meeting at the Chief Minister House, which was attended by key city officials including Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab and CEO of the Water Board Salahuddin.
The 65 MGD project, aimed at utilizing capacity from the Kenjhar Guju Canal, is part of Karachi’s sanctioned quota of 1200 cusecs from the Indus River. The Chief Minister was informed about the existing bulk water supply system, including canals, pipelines, pumping stations, and filter plants. Despite the project being initiated through PPP mode, the Chief Minister directed the P and D Department to approve the scheme within ten days and released 4.5 billion rupees to commence the work.
Addressing the water needs of Site Limited, one of Karachi’s major industrial areas, the Chief Minister approved 2.1 billion rupees to enhance the water supply from the current 1.63 MGD to at least 6 MGD. This includes the replacement of old lines and rehabilitation of the Nazimabad pumping station.
For the Defense Housing Authority (DHA), the Chief Minister directed the construction of a 29 km long, 24-inch diameter pipeline from Damloti to DHA to provide 10 MGD of water, allocating Rs 2.1 billion for this purpose.
Additionally, the S3 Project was discussed, which involves modifying the operational capacity of sewage treatment plants in response to inflation. The Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 5 billion to begin work on reducing the capacity of TP One from 1000 MGD to 35 MGD and TP Three from 180 MGD to 100 MGD.
These initiatives reflect the Sindh government’s commitment to improving Karachi’s water supply and sewage treatment infrastructure, addressing longstanding issues faced by the city’s residents.