KARACHI, Feb 6: The federal government has agreed to provide funds to replace the 50-year old sewerage system in the metropolis under a mega S-III project of the Karachi Water and Sanitation Board (KWSB).

“A PC-1 for the project was sent to the federal government about two months ago, which is likely to be approved by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal had already briefed him” said a KWSB official.

This was a Rs6 billion project covering almost 4,000 miles of lines in the metropolis, he added.

The existing sewerage system was established under the S-I project in 1883. This was later replaced in some areas under the S-II project in 1960, which completed its life over 25 years ago and can collapse any time.

“Keeping in view the WTO conditions regarding pollution-free environment in a city of Karachi’s size, the government is bound to replace all outdated sewerage systems” the official said.