KARACHI: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) claimed to have completed the revised design of the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme, commonly known as K-IV, and announced on Monday that the project would become operational within two years supplying 650 million gallon additional water daily to the metropolis.

The fresh piece of information came during a visit of Wapda chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain to the project site, where he said that the project had gathered pace recently under the Prime Minister’s Karachi Package.

He expressed satisfaction on the overall progress of the project after he was briefed about the different aspects of the mega scheme.

“We [Wapda] have completed the revised design of K-IV project in accordance with the timelines,” he said. “The process for awarding construction works of the project is also under way.”

He said that following the award of the contract, the construction work on the project would commence in next three to four months. “Wapda is committed to complete the project in October 2023 to start supplying 650 mgd additional water to Karachi under the Prime Minister’s Karachi Package.”

During the visit, the Wapda chairman was accompanied by K-IV project director, representative of consultants and others.

The project director briefed him about the major milestones achieved so far and the plan to execute the project according to the timelines.

Later the Wapda chairman also visited the site of a dam project being constructed on Gaj River. He also met the Sindh chief secretary and discussed the matters related to K-IV, Nai Gaj, Sindh Barrage and Hub Dam with him.

The multibillion-rupee scheme was meant to meet the water needs of Karachiites but it remains a distant dream even after more than 10 years of its formal launch in 2011.

Multiple causes delayed its completion and increased the estimated cost to Rs150bn. The federal government had finally taken over the project from the provincial government.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2021