KARACHI: The Sindh government and International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed an agreement on Tuesday to help the provincial government in a public-private partnership project for supplying clean drinking water to nearly one million people.

With a population of over 16 million, Karachi has been struggling to maintain reliable fresh water supply, said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while speaking at the ceremony held at the CM House.

He added that under the agreement, the IFC would advise the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) on structuring and tendering a project to build new infrastructure to boost the city’s water supply.

The CM said the project, to be executed by a private company, would include water treatment facilities and a bulk water conveyance system. The system would supply city with 65 mgd from Keenjhar Lake, he added.

“By bringing in the private sector to develop and operate a bulk water supply system, more people will have access to the water they need,” he said, adding: “The project will provide the framework for future green-field water infrastructure projects.”

IFC senior vice president Stephanie von Friedeburg said on the occasion that the project was Pakistan’s first green-field water supply initiative carried out under a public-private partnership.

She said water scarcity in Karachi had affected residents and hampered businesses for many years.

She added that the project demonstrated the power of the private sector to help governments modernise infrastructure, jumpstart economic growth and improve the lives of everyday people.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2021