Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, during a meeting with Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen (R) Sajjad Ghani at CM House, pledged Rs8.5 billion for the K-IV water project and proposed solutions to expedite other critical water and drainage projects, including RBOD-I and RBOD-III. The meeting was attended by Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, and other key officials. Discussions revolved around augmenting Karachi’s water supply, the progress of the K-IV project, and resolving long-standing issues with drainage systems.
The Chief Minister highlighted the Sindh government’s efforts to construct a parallel canal to strengthen Karachi’s water infrastructure. He urged WAPDA to allocate an additional 50 million gallons per day (MGD) from the Hub Dam. WAPDA’s chairman responded that the Karachi Water Board must submit a formal request and noted that the board owed Rs1 billion for Hub Canal maintenance. The CM assured that the dues would be cleared, directing Saeed Ghani to prepare a summary for payment.
The K-IV Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (Phase-I), designed to provide 260 MGD from Keenjhar Lake to Karachi, is a multi-faceted project involving intake structures, pumping stations, pipelines, reservoirs, and filtration plants. While WAPDA oversees the project’s main components, the Sindh government is managing power supply, land acquisition, and distribution networks.
WAPDA Chairman Sajjad Ghani reported 53% completion of the project, with work being executed under eight contract packages by local and international contractors. The Chief Minister directed immediate action to resolve pending issues, including clearing legal hurdles for the 5-kilometer right-of-way and settling compensation for land at RD 78.
The meeting also focused on the federally funded RBOD-I and RBOD-III drainage projects, designed to manage saline effluent and agricultural runoff in Larkana, Dadu, Jamshoro, Jacobabad, and Kambar Shahdadkot. These projects were completed in 2020 and 2021, but their handover to the Sindh government remains stalled due to disputes over repairs and financial liabilities. Minister Jam Khan Shoro pointed out that the provincial government spent millions on RBOD repairs during the 2022 floods.
The Chief Minister insisted that WAPDA should reimburse these expenses. To address these challenges, an expert committee comprising WAPDA and Sindh Irrigation Department officials was formed to study the RBOD projects and facilitate their transfer.
The meeting concluded with agreements to prioritize Karachi’s water needs and resolve outstanding issues for key infrastructure projects. The K-IV project’s scheduled completion by June 2026 remains a critical milestone for Karachi’s future water security.
