KARACHI: Despite an expenditure of PKR 86 billion, Karachi’s crucial K-IV water supply project remains incomplete, with authorities revealing that an additional PKR 70 billion is required to finish the remaining work.
During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water Resources—convened following a calling-notice by MQM-P MNA Aminul Haque—Federal Minister for Water Resources Mueen Wattoo disclosed that only 40% of the project has been completed so far. Wattoo maintained that the distribution of water falls under the domain of the provincial government.
Wapda Chairman Lt. Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Saeed briefed the committee that progress has improved recently, aided by a PKR 7.77 billion release from the Sindh government following previous funding shortages.
However, committee members raised serious concerns regarding ground realities and sustainability. Syed Waseem Aftab highlighted that citizens in Karachi are being exploited by an active tanker mafia, forced to pay up to PKR 8,000 per water tanker. Meanwhile, Munawar Talpur questioned the viability of the project, pointing out that Keenjhar Lake—the sole water source designated for K-IV—has dried up. He warned that investing massive capital into a project without a secure water source is futile and criticized the failure to curb the tanker mafia.
