KARACHI: The city administration took a significant step to address water supply issues for more than 2,000 households in Baba and Bhit Islands on Wednesday.

In this connection, a reverse-osmosis (RO) plant to provide 35,000 gallons of water to the islanders has been inaugurated.

The residents of the two islands were relying on a single hydrant under the Native Jetty Bridge for decades.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab along with his team and senior Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation officials inaugurated the RO plant during a visit to the islands, which are parts of the Keamari town.The mayor expressed his close association with the islanders.

In the first phase, the RO plant will provide 35,000 gallons of water per day to over 2,000 families on the islands.

The goal is to increase the plant’s capacity to 100,000 gallons per day by December fulfilling a promise made by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

The PPP government during 2008-13 established 18 such plants, including 12 in Keamari and six in Lyari, to provide clean and safe drinking water to residents. However, residents had complained about the KWSC’s inadequate services in maintaining these plants.

Reactivation of this RO plant is expected to resolve water supply issues, improve water quality and reduce water-borne diseases on the islands.

The mayor also visited the RO plants in Lyari and expressed his satisfaction with their performance.

The plants play a crucial role in supplying water to water-stressed areas in Lyari and Keamari towns, said Barrister Wahab.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023