CDWP backs Rs172bn K-IV water project for Karachi

The Central Development Working Party has cleared Karachi’s long-delayed K-IV bulk water project, putting a revised Rs172 billion plan on track for completion by June next year, according to Dawn Business. The approval comes as the scheme continues to face sharp cost escalation, a reduced design capacity and a lengthy delay from its original timeline.

The K-IV water project, formally known as the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, is intended to strengthen water supply for Pakistan’s largest city. But the project has changed substantially over time. Its current cost is reported at Rs172 billion, reflecting a rise of 975 per cent from the original estimate, while the planned capacity has been cut to 260 million gallons per day from the earlier 650MGD.

At Thursday’s CDWP meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, officials were told that the project has also faced a time overrun of more than 13 years. The latest phase, awarded in June 2022 at a contract value of Rs98.5 billion, was meant to finish by October 2023. Wapda Chairman Gen Muhammad Saeed told a parliamentary panel on Wednesday that financing problems had contributed to the delays, and the updated schedule now points to completion by June next year.

The project has a long history of revisions. The original 650MGD version was finalised in 2007 at an estimated cost of Rs15.8 billion. In 2014, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council revised it to Rs25.5 billion after adding a 50MW power supply for pumping stations and some bridges and tunnels for the 121km conveyance system that will carry water from Keenjhar lake to Karachi.

Alongside the Karachi scheme, CDWP also cleared six other development projects worth a combined Rs81 billion, taking the total value of the approved schemes to Rs253 billion. A separate project for establishing a space centre was referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, according to the summary shared from the meeting.

The K-IV project remains one of Karachi’s most closely watched infrastructure plans because of the city’s persistent water shortages. Its latest approval shows that the scheme is moving ahead, but the scale of the revisions underscores how complicated and costly large public water projects can become when delays pile up.

The approval by the CDWP gives the Karachi bulk water supply project renewed formal backing, but the timeline and reduced capacity highlight the challenge of turning a long-promised plan into a working supply line for the city.

FAQ

What is the K-IV project?

The K-IV project is the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, designed to improve water supply to Karachi.

What has changed in the project?

According to Dawn Business, the cost has risen sharply and the planned capacity has been reduced to 260MGD from 650MGD.

When is the project expected to be completed?

Wapda Chairman Gen Muhammad Saeed said the current phase is now scheduled for completion by June next year.