The federal government and the European Investment Bank (EIB) on Wednesday signed a €60 million declaration to advance a major sewage and wastewater management project in Karachi.

The declaration was signed on the sidelines of the 15th Pakistan-European Union (EU) Joint Commission in Brussels by Economic Affairs Secretary Muhammad Humair Karim and Head of the EIB’s Asia Pacific Division Edvardas Bumsteinas.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate General of International Partnerships (INTPA); Pakistani Ambassador to the EU Rahim Hayat Qureshi; EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis; and Acting Managing Director of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Paola Pampaloni.

The agreement formalises EIB financing for the Karachi Water Infrastructure Framework project that will support the rehabilitation and construction of key water treatment facilities in Karachi.

With an EIB financing package of approximately €60m, this initiative is set to significantly expand safe water supply and improve water security for the metropolis’s rapidly growing population.

The project reflects Pakistan’s commitment to modernising essential urban services and promoting climate-resilient infrastructure in one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas.

Speaking at the signing, Secretary Karim welcomed the EIB’s increased engagement in Pakistan and underscored the importance of deepening cooperation with European partners to address critical development and infrastructure needs.

He also conveyed Pakistan’s interest in expanding the pipeline of EIB-supported projects in priority sectors.

Last Thursday, the Sindh government affirmed that it would mobilise all available resources to carry out urgent lining of the Kalri Baghar (KB) Feeder — the main conduit supplying water to Karachi — to protect the city’s allocated water quota.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, the meeting was informed that this timing was crucial because it would allow the urgent lining of the KB Feeder to be finished on schedule.

The Rs50.989 billion project, funded by federal and provincial governments, is expected to save 510 cusecs of water by preventing seepage.