Daily Times

Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh on Information, Law and Anti-Corruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Friday said that Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah had formed a committee under the chairmanship of Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani to resolve the water issues of Karachi.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab was addressing a joint press briefing along with Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani about the meeting held earlier today under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister at Sindh Assembly Building, Karachi. Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that the committee will be comprised upon one each representative from all stake holders. Adviser Information said that the objective of the meeting was to reach a solution to the water crisis of mega city, Karachi. He said that the cooperation of the Federal Government is also sought to resolve the issue. The conference was also attended by the representatives of political parties and trade bodies, industrialists and all stakeholders. The meeting was briefed by the officials of Karachi Water Board. The meeting was apprised that the there was no lack of planning with regard to K-IV project. A third party audit about the K-IV project has been initiated.

The committee will meet after every 15 days. Wahab said that the committee will monitor water leakage, theft and losses. Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that in the month of October and November 70 MGD water will be included into the system.

Adviser said that the scheme will be reviewed and all the technical problems will be resolved. He said that the problem will not be resolved without K-IV project. Adviser said that as soon as the Nespak report will be received the work will further be initiated.

He said that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board will review before it starts the work of expansion. He said that the project will be divided into two parts. The Federal Government should complete the work of canal while the remaining work will be completed by the Provincial Government.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that a meeting will be scheduled with the Prime Minister during his visit on 12th July 2019.

He also said that the according to the Water Board officials half of the water needed is available so the supply will be as per the availability of water. MD water board briefed the meeting that the available water is about 44% of the total requirement.

The Chief Minister Sindh said that the work in K-IV prject stopped due to the problems in the project. Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that the members of the conference emphasized upon the payment of water bills. They appealed to the citizens of Karachi to come forward and pay the water bills. Adviser Information said that the Sindh government wants to complete the K-IV project. He said that the work of Dhabeji Pumping Station would be completed by 30th September and additional 80 MGD of water will be provided to the city of Karachi. Barrister Murtaza Wahab further said that 20 megawatt additional electricity will be demanded from Hub Power Plant. Replying to a question Adviser Information said that none of the MQM Pakistan member protested on the issue. He said that all the stakeholders are on one page that the matter of water crisis is humanitarian and not a political. Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that another meeting will be held within 30 days. It is the first ever meeting in the history of the province convened by the Chief Minister Sindh only to resolve the water crisis.

He said that it is a wrong to say that K-IV project has been come to an end. He said that the Chief Minister Sindh has directed that till the completion of K-IV project the need of water should be fulfilled by through completion of small projects so that the crisis would be minimized, he concluded.