KARACHI, the country’s largest city and economic lifeline, is facing an increasingly severe water crisis that continues to undermine the quality of life of millions of residents. With a population of around 35 million, the city receives barely half of its estimated daily water requirement, forcing countless households to depend on expensive private water tankers. The prolonged shortage is no longer merely an inconvenience; it is a pressing governance challenge that demands urgent and coordinated action.
Against this backdrop, the letter written by Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi chief Monem Zafar to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif deserves serious consideration. Referring to a report presented before a National Assembly Committee, the letter notes that the first phase of the K-IV water supply project, expected to provide 260 million gallons of water per day, is now scheduled for completion in December 2029. It urges the federal government to release the remaining funds required for the project during the current fiscal year, while calling on the Sindh Government to complete the K-IV augmentation component on a priority basis. The concerns raised are valid. More than two decades after it was conceived, K-IV remains unfinished despite being central to Karachi’s long-term water security. The way forward is clear. The federal government must ensure the timely release of the resources needed to keep the project on schedule, while the Sindh government must expedite the augmentation works essential for the system to become fully operational. Effective coordination between the two is indispensable if the project is to deliver its intended benefits. For a city that drives much of Pakistan’s economic activity, reliable access to water is not a privilege but a necessity. Completing the K-IV project should therefore rank among the foremost development priorities, bringing long-overdue relief to millions of Karachi’s residents.
