KARACHI: With monsoon rain forecast across the metropolis, the water and power utilities on Monday announced emergency drainage arrangements and major safety upgrades to minimise public inconvenience and risks.

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) said that Mayor Murtaza Wahab, chairman of the corporation, had directed the water utility to complete all necessary arrangements ahead of the rains, while K-Electric (KE) said it had invested over Rs1.2 billion in safety enhancement projects, urging the public to exercise caution around electrical infrastructure in waterlogged areas.

KWSC Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali Siddiqui said that low-lying and sensitive areas prone to water accumulation had been specially identified, adding that additional staff, machinery and resources would be deployed there for an immediate response.

He added that the KWSC’s jetting and suction machines had also been placed on high alert.

The chief executive said that keeping the drainage system functional and reducing rain-related problems remained the corporation’s top priority.

“Staff and technical teams will remain on 24-hour alert,” he said, adding that special teams had been constituted to keep the water supply and drainage network operational.

The water utility appealed to citizens not to open gutters or manhole covers during the rains.

It said that the sewerage system was not designed for stormwater drainage, and opening manhole covers could damage the network and pose risks to life and property.

Power safety

K-Electric said that its operational teams were on alert through centralised monitoring of weather and the power supply situation.

Spokesperson for KE, Imran Rana, said that the power utility had carried out preventive maintenance across its feeder network and at all grid stations, including the replacement of faulty connectors to strengthen its transmission and distribution infrastructure.

“To enhance the resilience of its distribution system, KE has spent over Rs1.2 billion on safety projects,” he added.

He said that the works included the replacement of more than 1,100 poles and several pole-mounted transformer (PMT) structures, the earthing of over 2,000 service brackets, and the replacement of meters and busbars in 241 multi-storey building schemes.

In addition, Mr Rana said, the utility converted five kilometres of overhead lines into underground infrastructure, installed insulators on 3,997 pole stay units and replaced circuit breakers and distribution boards at more than 250 PMTs.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2026