Senate SC vows to take action against those involved in K-IV faulty design, says project to complete by 2028

The Senate Standing Committee (SC) on Water Resources on Monday pleged to take action against those involved in delays and faulty design of K-IV project

KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2026) The Senate Standing Committee (SC) on Water Resources on Monday pleged to take action against those involved in delays and faulty design of K-IV project.

The Committee raised concerns over delays and escalating costs in Karachi’s long-awaited K-IV water supply project.

While briefing to media persons, the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources Jam Saifullah Khan along with members of the Committee said that a part of the project by WAPDA is expected to be completed by December 2026 and Augmentation Route Plan on part of the Karachi Water and Sewrage Corporation (KWSC), Sindh government, would be completed by 2028.

He shared the information after a meeting on the planning, design and execution of the project, which aimed to supply 650 million gallons of water daily to the country’s largest city.

He said that the World Bank has expressed its concerns as per reports over the quality of pipes and environmental standards.

He further said that the Country Director of World Bank has been invited in the next meeting as they could know about their concerns.

Earlier, during the meeting, the senators questioned why the scheme, first conceived 22 years ago, had yet to be completed.

Officials attributed much of the delay to multiple issues including prolonged litigation during the project’s early phase, when it was overseen by the Karachi Water Board.

Fourteen cases in the high court had stalled progress, they said, adding that coordination issues among stakeholders also hindered implementation before federal authorities assumed control in 2020.

The project is now being executed by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), which began construction work in September 2022 after revising the design and cost structure. The project is divided into three components: water transfer from the Indus River to Keenjhar Lake, onward supply to Karachi, and distribution within the city.

Originally estimated at Rs 25 billion, the project’s cost has risen sharply to Rs171 billion.

Officials attributed the increase to currency depreciation and revisions in project planning over time.

Despite the cost escalation, WAPDA officials told the Committee that progress had accelerated. Around 90 percent of work on a 260 million gallons per day pumping station has been completed, while overall progress on the 650 MGD system stands at about 60 percent. Pipeline infrastructure is nearing completion, with more than 127km of the 128km main line already laid.

According to the briefing, around 27 percent of the project’s installations are imported, including pipelines sourced from China as well as pumps and motors from Germany, while filtration plant components have also been procured from abroad.

However, concerns remain over oversight and compliance. Lawmakers referenced objections raised by the World Bank regarding occupational safety standards and project supervision. The committee directed authorities to submit details of contractors and consultants involved, and indicated that the World Bank’s country director would be invited to a future session.

The Committee's members, including Senator Qurat-ul-Ain, pressed for greater transparency as Karachi continues to face chronic water shortages.

Replying to a question on supply of water to the Karachiites under K-IV project, the Chairman of the Standing Committee Jam Saifullah Khan said that the augmentation route plan would complete by 2028 and said that the citizens of Karachi would receive highest quality of water, which they could drink following its completion.

Members of the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources present at the meeting included Senator Zameer Ahmed Ghumro and Senator Aslam Abro while Additional Secretary Ministry of Water Resources Mehr Ali Shah, K-IV Project Director Gul Mir Khan and other relevant officials.