KARACHI: The Sindh government has planned a mega project to increase the storage capacity of Keenjhar Lake in district Thatta to meet the ever-increasing water demand of Karachi and approached the World Bank for its financing, it has emerged.

Officials said that the proposal for expanding the storage capacity of the lake was finalised by the Sindh irrigation department and sent to the chief minister for formal approval and grant of funds.

Keenjhar Lake is a major source of water for district Thatta and Karachi division.

Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation chief executive Syed Salahuddin Ahmed told Dawn the storage capacity of Keenjhar Lake needed to be expanded for the K-IV project, Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, commonly known as K-IV, which will add another 650 million gallons per day (MGD) water to the city’s supply.

Officials say the lake does not have capacity to store water for second and third phases of K-IV

He said that currently 650 MGD water was being supplied to the city, while its requirement was over 1,200 MGD.

The officials explained that Keenjhar Lake presently has the capacity to supply additional 260 MGD of water to the city after the completion of Phase-1 of the K-IV project.

However, the lake does not have capacity to store water for the second and third phases of the project and its capacity needed to be expanded before the completion of all phases of the K-IV project, they added.

Against this backdrop, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held a meeting with Country Director of the World Bank Najy Benhaaine here at CM House.

A press statement issued from CM House said that Mr Shah discussed with the WB official the need to increase the storage capacity of Keenjhar Lake to meet the city’s water needs.

The CM told the WB team that Keenjhar Lake is crucial for providing drinking water to the city and its surrounding areas.

He said that the proposed project to increase the storage capacity of the lake included improving the KB Feeder Lower Canal System and developing social and environmental plans.

The statement said that the World Bank expressed support for the project, which was estimated to cost around $300 million.

Additionally, the statement said, pre-feasibility of modernisation of Right Bank canals of Sukkur Barrage was carried out under the Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project (WSIP), and detailed feasibility would be carried out under the ongoing Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project (SWAT) at an estimated cost of $200 million.

The CM and World Bank team also discussed a 10-year engagement strategy — Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2025-34 — to achieve reduced child stunting, reduced learning poverty, more resilience to climate change, decarbonisation of the economy and more inclusive job opportunities.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2024