Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah Discusses K-IV Water Project Expansion with World Bank

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah met on Friday with World Bank Country Director Bolorma Amgaabazar to assess progress on Karachi’s water supply, infrastructure developments, and the K-IV augmentation scheme. In a press release from the Chief Minister’s office, Murad stated that the Sindh government, bolstered by World Bank collaboration, seeks to establish a modern and sustainable water supply system for Karachi. He further emphasized that the K-IV project is essential for meeting the city’s future water demands.

CM Murad instructed the relevant authorities to eliminate all technical and administrative obstacles hindering the K-IV project and to guarantee its timely completion. He underscored that effective water management and transparent governance are critical given Karachi’s rapidly expanding population. During the meeting, the chief minister and the World Bank country director also addressed water metering initiatives, urban enhancement projects in informal settlements, and ongoing reforms within the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). Provincial Ministers Nasir Shah and Jam Khan Shoro, Mayor Murtaza Wahab, senior government officials, and World Bank representatives attended the meeting. Previously, the chief minister had instructed authorities to accelerate project work while carefully managing construction activities in densely populated zones with existing utility infrastructure. He added that Karachi’s growing population necessitates a modern and efficient water supply system, and that all ongoing projects must be completed on schedule and to the highest quality standards.

Originally launched in the early 2000s to address Karachi’s chronic water shortage, the K-IV project has undergone multiple revisions, cost escalations, and bureaucratic delays. Although recent federal attention has renewed interest, concerns about funding and implementation timelines persist. The project, designed to deliver a sustainable supply of 650 million gallons per day (MGD) to Karachi in three phases, is being jointly executed by the Sindh and federal governments. The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is currently implementing Phase I, which targets a supply of 260 MGD to the city. The project encountered another setback last year when the federal government allocated only Rs3.2 billion in the budget, far short of the required Rs40 billion for the scheme. In February, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal established December 2026 as the new completion deadline and directed authorities to expedite work.

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