A high-level delegation from Austria visited the headquarters of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) at Karsaz on Wednesday, marking a milestone in international collaboration for Karachi’s water infrastructure development.
The delegation, led by Austrian Trade Commissioner for Pakistan Johannes Brenner and including Hydrofil CEO Gerald Eder, Noman Khan, Usman Moinuddin, and Hamood ur Rehman, held discussions with KWSC CEO Engineer Syed Salahuddin Ahmed. During the meeting, the CEO highlighted the significant reforms undertaken by the new KWSC management, which have garnered global recognition.
He also outlined the corporation’s roadmap to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, emphasizing clean water and sanitation for Karachi. The KWSC leadership emphasized the pressing need for a $4 billion investment to upgrade the city’s water and sewerage infrastructure, as outlined in the Karachi Diagnostic Study. While the Sindh Government and the World Bank initiated a $1.6 billion commitment under the Karachi Water Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) in 2019, an additional $2.4 billion remains unfunded.
The KWSC highlighted the importance of leveraging alternative financing and public-private partnerships to bridge the gap. The Austrian delegation expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and other stakeholders to develop sustainable water projects in Karachi.
They praised KWSC’s comprehensive strategy, which includes short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives like water filtration plants, renewable energy solutions, and wastewater recycling systems. The delegation also discussed offering technical assistance to reduce non-revenue water losses and enhance the technical capacity of KWSC staff. Highlighting Austria’s expertise in innovative infrastructure, they emphasized the feasibility of collaborative projects aligned with Austrian investment campaigns and technical studies.
The delegation toured KWSC’s Hydrant Management and Monitoring Centre, commending the modernized facility as a testament to the administration’s resilience in a challenging geopolitical environment. Observers noted that this marked the first recorded visit of an Austrian delegation to a Karachi water utility, reflecting the global confidence in KWSC’s reformed leadership and operational vision. The Austrian delegation expressed confidence in KWSC’s potential to become a regional leader in water supply and sanitation services. They showed interest in further collaborations, including the possibility of launching KWSSIP-2 with World Bank support and Austrian investment.
