K-IV project: A number of key targets achieved: Wapda chief
KARACHI: Wapda Chairman Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) has announced that Wapda has succeeded in achieving a number of key targets on Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV project) and concerted efforts are being made to complete Phase-I of the project in June 2026.
During his visit to the Project here on Thursday, he further said that prompt availability of the required funds is the key for completion of the Project as per the schedule.
The Chairman had a detailed visit of various work fronts to review construction progress. These work fronts included intake and pumping stations at Kinjhar Lake and water conveyance system comprising pressurized pipelines being laid from Kinjhar Lake to Karachi.
The project team along with the Consultants and the Contractors briefed the Chairman about progress on all eight contracts including intake, pumping stations, pipelines, water reservoirs and filtration facilities.
Two critical activities i.e. inserting two water carrier pipelines in sleeve pipes at main railways crossing and hydrostatic testing on the first 15 Km of the pipeline have recently been completed, while the second hydrostatic testing for another 25 Km single pipeline will be carried out in June.
Timelines for the remaining works and plans to achieve the targets as well as financial progress and requirement of funds were also discussed during the briefing. Cumulative physical progress on the Project is 63 percent. Rs. 75.21 billion have so far been spent on the Project, while PC-I of the Project's Phase-I amounts to Rs. 126.4 billion.
Underlining the importance of K-IV Project for Karachi, the Chairman directed the Project Team to excel construction activities to meet the timelines. He also directed them to maintain close liaison with other stakeholders for timely arrangement of power supply by the Government of Sindh and augmentation of the water distribution system by Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC).
K-IV Project envisages providing 650 million gallon per day (MGD) water to Karachi from Kinjhar Lake. The Project is planned to be completed in two phases. At present, Wapda is constructing Phase-I to supply 260 MGD water to Karachi. Phase-II, when implemented, will also augment another 390 MGD water to the system for Karachi.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
K-Electric proposes formula for loadshedding-free Karachi
Listen to article K-Electric has proposed a formula to eliminate electricity load-shedding in the metropolitan city. Three hundred out of 2,129 feeders in the metropolis account for 87% of power losses, which is the main reason for blackouts, KE's CEO Moonis Alvi said while speaking to a delegation of the Council of Economic and Energy Journalists (CEJ) on Saturday. 'If the government takes over these 300 feeders and manages the internal electricity distribution in these areas, K-Electric will be much closer to making Karachi load-shedding-free,' Alvi said, adding that KE is ready to supply electricity to these 300 feeders, but the responsibility for bill recovery from these areas would rest with the government. CEO Alvi claimed that 70% of Karachi is already exempt from load-shedding. K-Electric is working on introducing new technology to prevent power pilferage from feeders. He warned that any tampering with PMTs (Pole-Mounted Transformers) could lead to technical faults that may take up to three days to fix. He reiterated the offer to the government to help manage the internal electricity system in these areas. The KE CEO further stated that K-Electric's Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) will not adversely affect ordinary consumers. Rather, it will encourage foreign investment in the city's power supply system. 'The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority will review the MYT each year based on the level of investment,' he added. Alvi said that implementation of the MYT could make Karachi up to 90% load-shedding-free by 2030. By then, the number of power consumers in the metropolis is expected to reach five million, and power transmission will increase to 5,000MW. Responding to a question, Alvi said that KE is ready to supply electricity to captive power industries by connecting them to the grid. "We are prepared to follow the agreed timeline with the government and stakeholders for this transition." Industrial activity in Karachi has increased over the past few months, leading to a rise in electricity demand, he added.
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business Recorder
KP govt presents Rs50m to Peshawar Press Club
PESHAWAR: Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Dr. Mohammad Ali Saif visited the Peshawar Press Club where he presented a cheque of Rs. 50 million on behalf of the provincial government as financial assistance to the club. On this occasion, Secretary Information Muhammad Khalid, Additional Secretary Information Hayat Shah, office bearers of the Press Club, senior journalists, and other relevant individuals were present. Speaking at a press conference following the ceremony, Barrister Dr. Saif stated that the Peshawar Press Club is not just an institution for him, but feels like home. He emphasized that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is undertaking concrete and sincere steps for the welfare of journalistic institutions. Public resources are being utilized transparently, fairly, and effectively to enhance the professional capacity, training, and institutional development of the journalistic community. He further remarked that when resources are utilized properly, they have a multidimensional positive impact on society. This is the vision being implemented under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and under this vision, the Peshawar Press Club has been granted financial support twice during the current fiscal year. In response to a question regarding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Barrister Dr. Saif clarified that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has made sincere efforts for political dialogue. At one point, a formal negotiation committee was established which engaged in talks with the government, but the process stalled and the committee was eventually dissolved. He asserted that PTI continues to make efforts on political, constitutional, and legal fronts to secure the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. He stressed that without political stability, economic recovery and effective implementation of national security policies is not possible. The only way to achieve stability is to ensure swift judicial decisions on the baseless, politically motivated cases filed against Imran Khan and PTI leaders, and to release innocent political prisoners so they can rejoin the mainstream political process. Barrister Dr. Saif highlighted that Imran Khan has been in prison for two years but has neither sought pardon nor relief and has borne all hardships with patience. 'Anyone who believes that keeping Imran Khan behind bars will change the political landscape is delusional. The interest of the state, the nation, and the government lies in finding a peaceful resolution to this mockery.' Responding to another question about the protest plan to secure release of Imran Khan, he confirmed that a new protest campaign is being launched and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been instructed by Imran Khan accordingly. Regarding relations with neighbouring country Afghanistan, Barrister Dr. Saif revealed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has repeatedly submitted formal and informal requests to the federal government for permission to send a delegation to Afghanistan to engage directly with Afghan authorities on matters that are affecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He emphasized that due to geographical proximity, developments in Afghanistan directly impact Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Expressing disappointment, he criticized the federal government's political incompetence and diplomatic inaction for hampering provincial efforts and preventing meaningful engagement with Afghanistan. He clarified that the KP government does not seek to conduct an international diplomatic mission or discuss matters of national security but only wishes to address issues that directly affect the province. Criticizing the federal foreign ministry, he stated, "The Foreign Minister has travelled the world but has failed to visit Afghanistan, our neighbouring country—this is a major foreign policy failure." Addressing a question about the expulsion of Afghan nationals, Barrister Dr. Saif made it clear that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government disagrees with the federal policy in this matter. He stated that Afghan refugees are seen as brothers, and treating them with compassion and fraternity is both a humanitarian and religious obligation. 'The Chief Minister has repeatedly stated that the provincial government does not endorse the federal government's approach toward Afghan refugee's repatriation. We believe Afghans share our language, culture, religion, and faith," he said. He emphasized that Afghan nationals are going through difficult times due to instability in their country, and turning them away is neither humane, Islamic, nor aligned with Pashtun traditions. He added that if any Afghan national completes legal documentation and wishes to re-enter Pakistan, the provincial government has no objections. Barrister Dr. Saif firmly rejected narratives blaming Afghan citizens for the province's problems, calling such claims unfair and disconnected from reality. Speaking on the issue of political conspiracies and scandals, Barrister Dr. Saif accused the ruling coalition of adopting failed strategies that have only boosted PTI's popularity. 'We are under attack from all sides—facing conspiracies and political hurdles—but by the grace of God, PTI's public support continues to grow.' He added that the party is not intimidated by these scandals and, in fact, believes they are fuelling public sympathy and respect for PTI. Barrister Dr. Saif described the PPP's anti-corruption protest as the height of political hypocrisy and mockery. 'The world knows that if any party is most associated with corruption, it is the Pakistan People's Party,' he said. He cited a 2008 United Nations report listing global money launderers, where the second name belonged to a current Pakistani figure that, regrettably, now holds the office of President. "This report is publicly available on the UN website, and every Pakistani can judge the moral standing of those protesting against corruption." Commenting on the PPP's recent protest, Dr. Saif said, 'If you unlawfully enter the Red Zone and damage public property, the law will respond. The police used only legal and reasonable force—no bullets were fired, and no extrajudicial actions were taken." He reminded the public that those now complaining about being hit with batons are the same ones who previously opened fire on unarmed PTI protesters in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and D-Chowk, resulting in over 18 deaths. 'Those people had no weapons. If they did, perhaps you wouldn't have dared to fire at them. But when you shoot at unarmed protesters, you lose the moral right to cry foul when law enforcement acts within legal bounds.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
KCCI urges PM to release Rs23b power subsidy
Listen to article President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure the release of the long-overdue Rs23 billion relief in electricity bills on incremental consumption. In a statement released on Friday, he called for the inclusion of this relief in the upcoming federal budget for FY2025-26, lamenting that although it was allocated in earlier budgets, it has yet to be disbursed — affecting only Karachi's industrial sector, while the rest of the country has received the benefit. As per the statement, Bilwani wrote a letter to the prime minister, acknowledging the government's steps to support the business community but expressed deep concern over the continued delay in providing the subsidy for the period from July 1, 2021, to October 21, 2023. He noted that Karachi's industries remain under immense financial pressure due to administrative and legal complications. He stated that the total subsidy for the period stands at Rs33 billion, of which Rs23 billion is undisputed and should have already been disbursed. Funds were earmarked in previous budgets — Rs22 billion in FY2021-22, Rs13 billion in FY2022-23, and Rs7 billion in FY2023-24 — but the subsidy has not reached recipients due to procedural delays involving K-Electric. "K-Electric (KE) operated without a stay order for nearly nine months yet failed to pass on the subsidy to consumers," said Bilwani, adding that NEPRA did not enforce compliance, and legal obstacles have dragged the issue. He pointed out that KE's appeals were dismissed by a tribunal in July 2024, but the matter remains stalled due to a stay order from the Islamabad High Court. KCCI has urged immediate verification of the figures by the Power Division and NEPRA, stressing that the verified subsidy should be reflected in the upcoming budget. Crucially, KCCI proposed that the undisputed Rs23 billion be paid directly to industrial consumers instead of routing it through KE to avoid further delays. "This is not just a legal obligation; it is a matter of economic justice and national interest," Bilwani said.
