KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that water shortage in the provincial capital was one of the serious problems and that was why his government had launched Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply K-IV project to provide 260 MGD additional water to the city on top priority. Addressing a gathering organised to perform groundbreaking ceremony of the phase-I of K-IV water supply project at Super Highway on Sunday, the chief minister said, “I promise to launch K-IV phase-II on next Independence Day to provide another 260 MGD to the residents and for the industrial growth.” Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, provincial ministers Nisar Khuhro, Jam Khan Shoro, Sindh Rangers Director General Major General Bilal Akbar, Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) Director General Major General Afzal, ACS (Development) Mohammad Waseem, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director Misbahuddin and others were also present. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that when he was finance minister he had allocated enough funds for K-IV because it was an old project which was kept on the back burner. However, the said, “You [Karachiites] would have to face water shortage in the next summer as well after which you would have enough water to beat the heat He added that the K-IV project would be completed within two years. It may be noted that K-IV is Rs 15.25 billion project and 50 percent cost of the project is being borne by the federal government. The FWO would construct 75 kilometers gravity canal system, two pumping stations, four filtration plants and four storage lagoons. The water would be brought from Keenjhar Lake. The chief minister thanked the federal government for providing 50 percent cost of the project. “This is a big gift for the people of Karachi and I am giving it to my citizens today,” he said and thanked Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad for his efforts for the project. He said that the Sindh government had given its land resources for the project. “I am thankful to the officers who worked hard to approve its plan,” he remarked. Referring to the Rs 10 billion Karachi uplift package, Murad Ali Shah said, “Out of 19 schemes, we have approved 14 schemes so far and the approval of other schemes is in progress.” Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad also spoke on the occasion and appreciated the collective efforts of the Sindh government and the officers of the water board. He thanked FWO DG Major General Afzal for starting the work on the project. “This project has delayed since long but finally now it has been launched.” He appreciated the efforts of law enforcement agencies, particularly Rangers, for restoration of peace in Karachi. In his address, the FWO director general highlighted the scope of K-IV project and vowed to complete it within two years. Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad alongwith Senior Minister for Food Nisar Khuhro and for local government minister landed at the venue of ground breaking ceremony at Super Highway in a helicopter. Just after landing they jointly unveiled the plaque to formally perform ground breaking of the project.