• Conditional NOC binds Sindh govt to meet strict deadlines to keep project moving, sources say
• CM holds review meeting with World Bank country director

KARACHI: After an inordinate delay and repeated setbacks, the K-IV Augmentation Project, a component of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, commonly known as the K-IV Project, has finally received a conditional no-objection certificate (NOC) from the World Bank (WB), clearing the way for procurement to resume and raising hopes of easing the city’s acute water shortage.

The project is being executed by the Sindh government under the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) to supply water through pipelines from three massive reservoirs where it would be brought from Keenjhar Lake under the main project being carried out under the federal government through Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

In December 2025, a WB team had flagged the project for poor environmental and social safety measures, a lack of adequate technical supervision on the ground and failure to provide proper public safety protocols on the heavily congested University Road.

The most critical technical halt happened in May after the World Bank engineering experts had declared the ongoing construction on the fast-tracked 2.7-kilometer common corridor and substandard and non-compliant with international technical specifications.

According to a statement issued by the CM House, at a review meeting with World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar at the Chief Minister House on Monday, both sides agreed on an accelerated roadmap to strengthen the city’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure and ensure safe drinking water access to over two million residents.

It was informed that procurement for K-IV augmentation had reached an advanced stage, with conditional no-objection received from the World Bank and the project advertisement was expected shortly.

Informed sources told Dawn that under the conditional NOC, the provincial government must meet strict engineering and environmental deadlines to keep the project moving.

They said that key requirements included immediate joint integrity verification of the 96-inch pipeline and structural rectifications near major flyovers and the NIPA bridge corridor by Aug 20.

The sources said that the clearance also mandated full implementation of environmental and social impact assessment guidelines and seamless coordination with utility agencies like the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to avoid layout clashes and further delays. Monday’s meeting also decided to transition several unfinished components of KWSSIP-I to KWSSIP-II, including the non-revenue water strategy, pilot district metered areas, hydraulic modelling, rehabilitation works in Essa Nagri, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) installation, and master planning studies.

A comprehensive metering plan was shared with the WB and both sides agreed to launch a pilot before large-scale installation of system meters.

The meeting was attended among others by Local Government Minister Nasir Shah, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, KWSC’s Data Acquisition (SCADA) installation, and master planning studies.

A comprehensive metering plan was shared with the WB and both sides agreed to launch a pilot before large-scale installation of system meters.

The meeting was attended among others by Local Government Minister Nasir Shah, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, KWSC’s Ahmed Ali Siddiqui and WB Senior Water Specialist Tiziana Smith.

Emphasising that improving access to safe drinking water remained a top priority, the chief minister said that the principal objective of KWSSIP was to provide safe drinking water to nearly two million Karachi residents.

The meeting was informed that chlorination stations had been shifted to designated locations and commissioning was underway, and that water quality testing was expected to commence by July 30.

The chief minister directed the water utility and project teams to complete commissioning without delay and strictly maintain water quality standards.

“The ultimate success of this project will be measured by its impact on citizens, and timelines should be treated as commitments to the people of Karachi,” he added.

Mayor Wahab said that compensation had been disbursed to 186 of 203 project-affected persons and notices had been issued to the remaining beneficiaries. “Payments will be completed after approval of the revised resettlement plan,” he added.

He further informed that an independent monitoring consultant for environmental and social compliance joined the project on July 13.

On the 2.7-kilometre common corridor, the meeting was informed that Sui Southern Gas Company had handed over the site on June 22 and preparations for joint integrity verification of the 96-inch pipeline were underway, while bridge rectification and piling had commenced. Weld integrity verification and NIPA bridge rectification are scheduled for completion by August 20.

CM Shah directed uninterrupted inter-agency coordination, warning that delays would affect the larger goal of strengthening Karachi’s water network.

CM Murad welcomed progress on recruitment for key technical and management positions under KWSSIP-II and ordered that remaining posts be filled immediately.

Amgaabazar appreciated the provincial government’s commitment to water sector reforms and reaffirmed the WB’s support for sustainable water and sanitation services in the city.

“The World Bank remains committed to supporting the Sindh government and KWSC. Continued focus on reforms, safeguards, governance and timely execution will be critical,” she said.

Concluding the meeting, the chief minister directed all stakeholders to adhere to agreed timelines and ensure project benefits reach citizens without delay.

“Karachi’s growing population requires resilient and modern water infrastructure. We must deliver lasting improvements in water supply, sanitation and public service delivery,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2026