Karachi’s Mayor, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, revealed a groundbreaking project aimed at resolving the city’s water crisis, involving the laying of a new canal and rehabilitating existing ones with an estimated cost of Rs12 billion. Expected to be completed within 12 months, the initiative will significantly enhance water provision, particularly benefiting residents in districts West, Central, Keamari, Lyari, and other areas. Speaking at a press conference held at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation’s headquarters, Mayor Wahab highlighted the project’s importance in addressing Karachi’s long-standing water challenges.
The initiative aims to deliver an additional 200 million gallons of water per day from Hub Dam, substantially improving water availability across various parts of the city. Joined by PPP’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the City Council, Dil Muhammad, and other officials, Mayor Wahab expressed gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for their support in securing approval for the project. He underscored the urgent need for additional water sources, emphasizing that despite receiving 100 million gallons from Hub Dam, the city faces shortages due to system failures. With the new canal construction, an additional 1500 million gallons of water will be supplied to Karachi, complementing the existing infrastructure.
The project, estimated at Rs9.8 billion, is part of the broader efforts to enhance Karachi’s water supply network. Mayor Wahab also outlined plans for sewage drainage projects worth Rs12 to 13 billion, pending approval. Murtaza highlighted infrastructure developments such as the expansion of MurghiKhanabridge and emergency repairs on Clifton Bridge.
He discussed progress on the Lyari and Malir Expressways, aiming to ease traffic congestion within the city. Addressing environmental concerns, Mayor Wahab emphasized the need for legislation to ban plastic bags, citing their detrimental impact on drainage systems. He expressed optimism for the approval of a ban on plastic bags in the Sindh Assembly, aligning with efforts to mitigate environmental hazards and enhance civic infrastructure in Karachi.
