ISLAMABAD: The World Bank (WB) has approved $240 million financing for the second Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP-2) to provide safely-managed water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in Karachi.

According to World Health Organisation, the safely managed drinking water is an improved water source that is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination.

The project will provide water to nearly 16 million people and sanitation services to nearly 7.5 million people in Karachi by 2030.

It will also improve the performance and financial sustainability of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) and promote private sector partnership in the delivery of WASH services, a World Bank press release said on Friday.

The second phase of KWSSIP will continue the reforms under the first KWSSIP along with scaling up infrastructure investments. With the infrastructure investments, the project also sees reduction in greenhouse gas emission from improving inefficient services.

Second phase of KWSSIP-2 to facilitate supply of ‘safely-managed’ water to 16m people

The project will decrease the risk of flooding aggravated by climate change and droughts through supporting climate-resilient water supply network rehabilitation (including non-revenue water reduction) and expansion, duly considering current and projected climate change impacts, leak reduction and efficient use of water sources.

The flooding of 2022 led to the prolonged lack of safe drinking water and toilets, along with the continued proximity of vulnerable families to the bodies of stagnant water are contributing to the widespread outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dengue and malaria.

At the same time, open defecation has increased by more than 14 per cent in the flood-affected regions. To make the matters worse, the lack of proper toilets is disproportionally affecting children, adolescent girls and women who are at the added risk of shame and harm when defecating outdoors.

Given the climate vulnerability of the first phase of the project area, the plan intends to provide safely-managed water and sanitation services in Karachi that are resilient to the rising impacts of climate exacerbated flooding and droughts.

The objective of the project is to provide safely managed water and sanitation services in Karachi and increase KWSC’s financial and operational performance.

The project is the first phase of the World Bank’s support for the Pakistan Urban WASH Services Programme that aims to reach 33.5 million people with safely managed WASH services by 2035.

KWSSIP-2 will be co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank with $240 million. In addition, there will be government contribution of $250 million and expected private sector and commercial finance of $269 million.

“Safely managed WASH services are the foundation of public health and quality of life and are central to addressing the stunting crisis in Pakistan,” said World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, Najy Benhassine.

“The second phase of the project will expand the scope of investments in bulk water augmentation, water treatment, wastewater treatment and reuse, water distribution, and sewer network rehabilitation.

“About half of all beneficiaries will be women, 58 per cent will be youth (age 15–24), as well as over half a million people in katchi abadis (informal settlements).”

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2024