Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday held a meeting with Bolorma Amgaabazar, Country Director of the World Bank, to review progress on Karachi’s water supply and infrastructure development initiatives, with a particular focus on the K-IV water augmentation project.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister House, Murad Ali Shah said that the Sindh government, in collaboration with the World Bank, is committed to establishing a modern, efficient, and sustainable water supply system for Karachi. He described the K-IV project as a critical initiative for meeting the growing water demands of Pakistan’s largest city.
The chief minister directed relevant authorities to remove all technical and administrative bottlenecks hindering the project and ensure its completion within the stipulated timeframe. He emphasized that transparent governance and effective water management are essential to address the challenges posed by Karachi’s rapidly expanding population.
The meeting also reviewed key issues including water metering, urban development works in informal settlements, and ongoing institutional reforms within the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC).
The session was attended by Sindh Senior Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Murtaza Wahab, senior government officials, and representatives of the World Bank.
Earlier, CM Murad had instructed authorities to maintain the pace of construction activities while ensuring careful management of work in densely populated areas where existing utility infrastructure could be affected.
“Karachi’s growing population requires a modern and reliable water supply system. We must ensure that all ongoing projects are completed on schedule and in accordance with the highest quality standards,” he said.
Originally conceived in the early 2000s to address Karachi’s chronic water shortages, the K-IV project has faced repeated delays, design revisions, and cost escalations over the years. The project is designed to provide a sustainable supply of 650 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to Karachi through three phases.
The scheme is being jointly financed and executed by the federal and Sindh governments, with the Water and Power Development Authority currently implementing Phase-I, which is expected to deliver 260 MGD of water to the city.
Despite its strategic importance, the project faced funding challenges last year when only Rs3.2 billion was allocated in the federal budget against a requirement of Rs40 billion. In February this year, Ahsan Iqbal set December 2026 as the revised deadline for the completion of the K-IV project and directed authorities to expedite work to ensure timely delivery.
