Key Takeaways
- Jamaat-i-Islami has written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding Karachi’s water crisis.
- The K-IV project is expected to be completed in December 2029, supplying 260 million gallons of water per day.
- Karachi requires at least 1,200 million gallons of water daily but currently receives only around 550 million gallons.
The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to release Rs. 40 billion needed for the K-IV water supply project in Karachi, highlighting the city’s worsening water crisis.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar emphasized that the first phase of the K-IV project is expected to be completed by December 2029. This phase aims to provide 260 million gallons of water per day to the city’s population.
Karachi, with a population of approximately 35 million, faces an acute water shortage, receiving only around 550 million gallons daily, which is less than half of its required 1,200 million gallons. The shortfall has led to widespread concern among residents and increased reliance on private water tankers.
Zafar pointed out that the last major water supply project completed for Karachi was K-III during the tenure of former city nazim Naimatullah Khan. He noted that the PC-II for the K-IV project had been prepared over 21 years ago to meet future needs, but it remains incomplete.
The Sindh government has blamed the federal government for delays, while parties in the federal government hold the provincial administration responsible. However, Zafar argued that both governments have failed to ensure timely completion of the project. He stated that despite World Bank assistance, the Sindh government had not completed the K-IV augmentation project.
The federal government’s allocation for the project has been insufficient. According to Zafar, only Rs3.2 billion was allocated in the previous budget, while the current budget earmarked Rs8 billion against a requirement of Rs40 billion. He described this as a lack of seriousness on both sides.
Zafar highlighted that Karachi residents, despite making significant contributions to provincial and federal revenues, are forced to spend billions annually on private water tankers due to the chronic shortage. He suggested that if the K-IV project had been completed on time, citizens could have spent these funds on education, healthcare, and food instead.
JI’s call for immediate action reflects a growing frustration among residents who continue to face severe water shortages despite years of inaction from both levels of government.
The federal government has allocated only a fraction of the required funds. Against a requirement of Rs40 billion, the federal government allocated only Rs3.2 billion for the project in the previous budget, while the current budget earmarked Rs8 billion.
Monem Zafar, JI Karachi chief
