KARACHI: Mayor Murtaza Wahab has become the chairman of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) after Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori gave his assent to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) Bill, 2023.

The Sindh Assembly had on June 8 passed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation Bill, 2023 to transform the KWSB into a corporation and a profit-making utility besides enabling it to meet the growing demand of potable water in the city.

Talking to Dawn, Mayor Wahab said he would play his due role in solving the issues of water supply and sewerage in the city after the transformation of the KWSB into a corporation.

He said that now the mayor would be chairman of the water utility having due authority to oversee the issues of water shortage and sewerage in the city.

Murtaza Wahab promises to solve city’s water-related issues

More powers to be given to LGs: Nasir Shah

Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, who earlier was the chairman of the KWSB, said that as per the vision of Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari the provincial government increased the powers of the Karachi mayor only to bring convenience to the people.

He said that the government would continue to delegate more powers to elected local government representatives in the metropolis.

In a statement, he said that after KWSB got the status of a corporation another promise made by the PPP chairman to the people had been fulfilled.

He said that the transfer of powers to the local governments would be a mean of providing facilities and relief to the people.

He said that the Sindh government was trying to provide maximum relief and facilities to the people and giving the KWSB corporation status would benefit the people.

Salient features of new law

According to the new law, the city mayor, or administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, will be the chairperson of the board of the KWSC.

The KWSC board, headed by the mayor, will have power in respect of supplying potable water and disposing of sewage and for the purpose approving plans and projects and over management and organogram of the corporation structure.

The new law also empowers the KWSC to outsource supply of water and maintenance of sewerage or any ancillary services, including communications, complaint management and the recovery of user fees and charges from all consumers in low-income areas and Katchi Abadis.

The KWSB was transformed into a corporation to transform the utility into a profit-making organisation and to meet the growing demand of water.

The law is aimed at ensuring robust, accountable and modern management which would lead the utility to work in the most apt manner and to rationalise the recovery and tariff.

The KWSC would also have the chief executive officer (CEO) to be appointed by the board for a period of four years.

Besides, the corporation would be empowered to operate on sound commercial practice to ensure that its revenues are sufficient to provide for all operations and maintenance costs, including a reasonable return on investment.

It would also devise strategic plans for effective and sustainable delivery of potable water and sewage disposal.

The KWSC will also collect or recover tariffs, charges and fees, including betterment fees for water supply, ground water extraction and sewage services as well as arrears thereof. It will also ensure its financial sustainability.

The corporation would be empowered to borrow as may be required for the purpose of meeting any capital expenditure and discharging its functions from sources within or outside of Pakistan subject to law, rules or regulations.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2023