KARACHI, Oct 29: There is a need for long-term planning to resolve water shortage problem of Karachi, which has six per cent annual population growth rate.

This was stated by acting city Nazim Tariq Hasan while talking to a delegation headed by Walter A. Stottmann of “World Bank water and sanitation programme-South Asia” here on Wednesday. District Coordination Officer Mir Hussain Ali was also present in the meeting.

He said that the metropolis had old water distribution system, which had been causing 30 to 35 per cent water losses. If water supply and sewerage system was not improved, he said that more problems would confront citizens. Moreover, he said, no water and sewerage system existed in katchi abadies.

Mr Tariq maintained that the city government could not provide funds for the replacement of sewerage and water lines on big scale, though it was striving to improve the administrative affairs and resources to serve the citizens in a better way. He said that the World Bank could resolve the problem by extending technical and financial aid to the city government.

He said that the appointment of Brig Asif Ghazali as KWSB chief was a positive step. He expressed hope that the administrative affairs of water board would improve under his command.

Besides, he said that the city government needed financial and administrative assistance for power generation and solid waste management.

The DCO said that supply of 100mgd from Hub source had mitigated the water problems while planning on K-IV project was also being completed. The project, he added, was expected to start soon.

He said that the city government was also considering to establish more treatment plants in the city. The major share of Karachi Development Package announced by President Musharraf would be utilized for resolving the water problems, he added.

Mr Hussain called the co-operation of investors and financial institutions to help local government in resolving the problems caused by the rapid population growth and katchi abadies.

A representative of the World Bank delegation said that people had great expectations for improvement in the working of different departments under this devolution plan. He expressed hope that the leadership of Karachi would succeed to face challenges with the best administrative abilities. —PPI