KARACHI, Dec 14: Following a request from the Government of Pakistan, the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to undertake a study mainly aimed at chalking out a master plan for an improved water supply and sewerage system in Karachi targeting the requirements up to year 2025, sources told Dawn.

The project will also include a feasibility study for the priority projects selected in the master plan and pursue technology transfer to its Pakistani counterparts in the respective fields during the course of the study.

The study area will be limited to the Karachi City District comprising 18 towns and the areas serving as the raw water sources and their conveyance routes to the city.

According to well-placed sources, the JICA has been given the task of determining the consultancy requirements for the study, which will have 24 months of duration.

Besides, the sources said, there were various sub-projects proposed for the feasibility study in the sub-sectors aimed at addressing the key issues responsible for the poor quality of infrastructure and services.

Officials said although a master plan for water and sewerage was currently being prepared by JICA, there was no master plan pertaining to drainage.

The KWSB has recently assumed responsibility for improving drainage in the city since most of the wastewater generated is discharged into the storm-water drains.

The project will also update the existing concepts, preliminary designs and feasibility study for the Korangi Sewer Rehabilitation and Sewage Treatment Plant project.

Sources said these subprojects were supported by advisory studies on tariff reforms and organisational development, and by capacity building assistance to reinforce sustainability of the rehabilitated infrastructure and services.

Sources said the KWSB had already received ADB assistance for sewerage and wastewater management improvements, besides the assistance from the World Bank and Japan Bank for International Cooperation for water supply improvements.

However, they said, critical system needs were still there, and among them were a new master plan for water supply and sewerage to supersede the existing plan designed for a period up to year 2003.