Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, World Bank review Karachi water reforms

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and World Bank Country Director Ms Bolormaa Amgaabazar on Monday reviewed the progress of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP), assessed key implementation challenges and agreed on an accelerated roadmap to strengthen Karachi’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure

KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jul, 2026) Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and World Bank Country Director Ms Bolormaa Amgaabazar on Monday reviewed the progress of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP), assessed key implementation challenges and agreed on an accelerated roadmap to strengthen Karachi’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure.

The meeting, held at the CM House, The meeting was attended by Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Acting Chairman P&D Bilal Memon, ACS Local Government Waseem Shamshad, CEO Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) Ahmed Siddiqui, Chief Foreign Aid P&D Sajda Ayaz Kazi, Project Director KWSSIP Ayesha Hameed Safia and other senior officials.

The World Bank delegation included Operations Officer Hina Salim Lotia, Senior Water Specialist Tiziana Smith, Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist Mohammad Farhanullah Sami, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Kamran Akbar (virtual), Senior Procurement Specialist A.N.M. Mustafizur Rahman, Procurement Specialist Syed Wajahat Ali Shah, Environmental Specialist Nida Asif, Social Development Specialist Sarah Khokhar, Environmental Specialist Ibad-ur-Rehman and other experts.

The Chief Minister emphasised that improving access to safe drinking water and modernising Karachi’s water and sewerage network remained among the Sindh government’s highest priorities.

The Chief Minister Murad Shah said that one of the principal development objectives of KWSSIP is to provide safe drinking water access to nearly two million Karachi residents. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab reported that chlorination stations have been shifted to designated locations and commissioning is underway. Water quality testing is expected to commence by July 30, 2026.

The Chief Minister directed the KW&SC and project management teams to complete commissioning and testing activities without delay and ensure that water quality standards are strictly maintained.

“The ultimate success of this project will be measured by its impact on citizens. Every household must receive clean, safe and reliable water. Timelines should be treated as commitments to the people of Karachi,” Murad Shah said.

The meeting was further informed that KW&SC has successfully achieved full coverage of its operation and maintenance costs, a major institutional milestone under the reform programme.

Mayor Murtaza Wahab briefed the meeting that compensation payments had been disbursed to 186 out of 203 Project Affected Persons (PAPs), while efforts were continuing to complete payments to the remaining beneficiaries. Notices have already been issued and the remaining process is expected to be completed after approval of the revised resettlement plan.

The Chief Minister directed the Mayor to ensure that all outstanding compensation cases are resolved transparently and expeditiously. “No affected family should face unnecessary delays. Social safeguards and community confidence are essential components of infrastructure development,” he said.

The meeting was informed that an Independent Monitoring Consultant for environmental and social compliance had joined the project on July 13, strengthening oversight of safeguards and resettlement measures.

Reviewing the 2.7-kilometre common corridor works, officials informed the meeting that the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) had handed over the site on June 22, 2026, while preparations for joint integrity verification of the 96-inch pipeline are underway.

Bridge rectification works and piling activities have commenced, with weld integrity verification and NIPA bridge rectification scheduled for completion by August 20, 2026.

Murad Shah directed the project director to ensure uninterrupted coordination among all agencies involved. “The remaining technical works must be completed within the revised timelines.

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Any avoidable delay will affect the larger objective of strengthening Karachi’s water supply network,” he said.

The Chief Minister was informed that procurement activities for K-IV Augmentation have entered an advanced stage. Conditional no-objection from the World Bank has been received, while the advertisement for the project is expected to be published shortly.

The meeting reviewed progress on consultancy hiring, project management arrangements, GIS activities and preparation of technical studies required for future investments.

Murad Shah directed the concerned departments to expedite procurement approvals and maintain close coordination with development partners. “K-IV is a strategic project for Karachi’s future. Every procedural requirement should be completed swiftly while ensuring transparency and quality,” he said.

The meeting was informed that a comprehensive metering plan had been shared with the World Bank and both sides had agreed to initiate a pilot programme before large-scale installation of system meters.

The meeting also discussed the future water sector master plan, digital monitoring systems, SCADA implementation and non-revenue water reduction measures that are being incorporated into the second phase of the programme.

The Chief Minister directed KW&SC to accelerate digital transformation initiatives. “Modern utilities rely on data, metering and technology. Karachi’s water utility must continue moving towards greater efficiency, accountability and service delivery,” he said.

The meeting was informed that several unfinished components of KWSSIP-I are being transitioned to KWSSIP-II to ensure continuity and effective utilisation of project resources.

These include the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) strategy, pilot district metered areas, hydraulic modelling, rehabilitation of water supply and sewerage systems in Essa Nagri, construction of remaining chambers, SCADA installation, water testing activities, master planning studies, works at the Centre for Excellence in Research, Rehabilitation and Innovation (CERRI), and additional pipeline works in Soba Nagar.

Mayor Karachi stated that the transfer of these activities would enable uninterrupted implementation while aligning future investments with Karachi’s long-term water sector strategy.

The meeting reviewed recruitment and institutional strengthening measures under KWSSIP-II. It was reported that key positions, including Manager Technical, E&M Specialist, Communication Specialist and Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, had been filled, while recruitment for several other specialised positions was under evaluation.

The Chief Minister welcomed progress in strengthening project management capacity and directed that all remaining positions be filled at the earliest.

Speaking on the occasion, World Bank Country Director Ms Bolormaa Amgaabazar appreciated the Sindh government’s commitment to water sector reforms and acknowledged progress achieved under KWSSIP despite implementation challenges.

“The World Bank remains committed to supporting the Sindh government and KW&SC in delivering sustainable water and sanitation services for Karachi. Continued focus on reforms, safeguards, governance and timely execution will be critical to achieving the project’s objectives,” she said.

She emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum on institutional reforms, project implementation, service delivery improvements and future investments under KWSSIP-II.

Concluding the meeting, the Chief Minister directed all stakeholders to adhere strictly to agreed timelines, strengthen inter-agency coordination and ensure that project benefits reach citizens without delay.

“Karachi’s growing population requires resilient and modern water infrastructure. We must work collectively to deliver lasting improvements in water supply, sanitation and public service delivery. The government will continue to provide full support to ensure the success of these reforms,” Murad Shah said.