KARACHI, Nov 28: The City Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Monday categorically stated that that any increase in the water tariff must be linked with the improvement of water and sewerage systems. He was presiding over a meeting with the Administrative Consultant (South Asia) of the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Programme, Chris Heymans.

The meeting was also attended by KWSB Managing Director Brig Iftikhar Haider, Deputy MD (Planning) Shahid Saleem.

The nazim said that he had allocated Rs50 million for each of the 18 towns and another Rs1 billion for industrial areas with a view to improving the water and sewerage services.

In this regard, he pointed out that all towns would be required to submit water and sewerage schemes.

The engineering designs and tender documents of the said water and sewerage schemes would be prepared by consultants, he said.

These consultants would also be responsible for supervising the schemes as third-party validation, the nazim added.

Reiterating his commitment to help resolve persisting water and sewerage problems, he exhorted the KWSB officials to chalk out short- and long-term water and sewerage plans so that people could feel a gradual change and improvement in the coming months.

Endorsing the idea of area-based management for getting visible improvement, he advocated the need for holding meetings with all town nazims and at the Sindh government level for getting feedback on the KWSB’s restructuring plan.

Lauding the nazim for achieving the first stage of area-based restructuring of the KWSB, the WB’s representative, Mr Heymans, offered full technical assistance in various fields to facilitate in re-organizing the KWSB on professional principles.

He also underscored the need for posting professionals for an accountability process in the KWSB.