Daily Times

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that if megacity Karachi attains development the whole country would develop.

He was talking to an eight-member delegation of Chinese state-owned company, Energy China, led by its President Luo Bixiong who called on him here at CM House to discuss and explore ways and means to work in water distribution sector of Karachi.

The meeting discussed K-IV project which has been halted temporarily to make necessary changes on its design.

“National engineering firm, NESPAC is working on its design and as soon as it is finalized, work would be started,” the chief minister said.

He said that Karachi is a megacity of 17 million souls and its water requirement has been estimated at 1200 gallon per day but it was receiving only 500 MGD.

The meeting noted that the Hub River source conveyance system has flaws and faults, therefore line losses have been recorded much higher than the acceptable. The Chinese company showed interest to improve the system from Hub Source to Karachi.

The Chinese company on the chief minister’s request said that they would work out details, including the estimated cost to install a 100 MGD desalination plant in Karachi. It was pointed out that in the past the desalination technology was uneconomical but now the latest technology has not only turned to be economical but more efficient.

The third proposal which came under discussion was treatment of Malir River waste water to use it for industrial purposes. The Chinese company said that they would work out a plant for treatment of waste water for Sindh government.

Shah directed Planning & Development department to have another meeting with Chinese firm to firm up recommendations for working together in water sector.