KARACHI, Nov 27: The Nazim of Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, has said that without repairing the underground water and sewage lines, spending Rs6 billion on the planned additional 100mgd water supply under the K-3 project will amount to wasting funds.

If the additional water is released into the obsolete lines, they will burst, he said while speaking at a Lal Market Ground Iftar party given by the New Karachi Town representatives.

He said that according to official statistics, 35 per cent water was going waste because of leakages whereas the common opinion made it at 40-60 per cent.

Naimatullah said the water and sewerage system in Karachi had grown much older and the obsolete lines had broken at many places and, as such, needed replacement.

He said the water shortage could be controlled to some extent by repairing the leaking lines but billions of rupees would be required for their replacement and the City Government was short of funds.

He said that after the withdrawal of the Octroi tax, the City Government was not left with much resources to start major projects or replace the water and sewerage systems.

The Nazim said that although Karachi was a port city, it was not getting any benefit from the port. The transport of the entire country was ruining the city roads and, therefore, reconstruction the of Karachi needed to be done on a national basis and the City Government should have the authority to impose sea dues.

He said that an increase in the resources of the City Government was inevitable, otherwise the performance of development schemes would become difficult and the city’s major problems would remain unsolved. —APP