Karachi faces 54 MGD water shortage after electricity supply to NEK Pumping Station suspended: KWSC

Published
0
A man fetches water in bottles on a bicycle in Karachi's Buffer Zone area.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star/ File
A man fetches water in bottles on a bicycle in Karachi's Buffer Zone area.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star/ File

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) said on Sunday that the city was facing a shortfall of 54 million gallons per day (MGD) after electricity supply to North East Karachi Pumping Station was disrupted due to a fault in K-Electric’s main cable.

It also warned that this shortfall could increase if the cable was not repaired.

The KWSC’s latest announcement came a day after an emergency power shutdown at the Dhabeji Pumping Station disrupted the water supply to several parts of the city.

“Electricity supply by K-Electric (KE) to North East Karachi (NEK) Pumping Station was abruptly suspended at 3:27am on May 31, 2026. As a result, K-II pumping station’s operations were affected, and the water supply system was also partly affected,” KWSC said in a statement.

The statement added that KE sent a technical team after being contacted by the KWSC.

“KE officials confirmed that the power supply was cut off due to a fault in the main cable supplying electricity to the K-II pumping station,” it said, adding that KE had made “alternative arrangements on an emergency basis”.

“Later, backfeed was provided to the K-II pumping station through the K-III feeder, due to which the electricity supply was partially restored at 5:50am.

“However, due to limited capacity, the pumping operation could not be fully restored,” KWSC said, indicating the possibility of further shortage if the fault was not repaired “immediately and permanently”.

“The shortage may have an impact on the water supply schedule in different areas of the city,” KWSC said.

“KWSC has demanded that KE take emergency measures to repair the fault,” the statement read, adding that KWSC was monitoring the situation and utilising all available resources to restore the water supply.

Dawn reached out to KE spokesperson Imran Rana for a comment on the matter, but there was no immediate response.

Meanwhile, Karachi has entered the second month of a severe water crisis that has affected large parts of the metropolis, leaving thousands of families dependent on water tankers and private suppliers.

For many residents, obtaining water has become a daily challenge. Long queues for tankers, dry taps and rising water costs have added to the difficulties faced by households already burdened by skyrocketing inflation.

The ongoing crisis began in late March and persisted due to a combination of factors, including major pipeline leaks, bursts in transmission lines, power outages at pumping stations and technical faults affecting the city’s water supply system. As a result, normal water distribution has remained disrupted in many areas for weeks.

Opinion

Editorial

Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...
Terror and politics
Updated 29 Sep, 2026

Terror and politics

There is an urgent need to tone down the rhetoric and tackle terrorism as a collective challenge for both the affected provinces and the federation.
Watching the glaciers
29 Sep, 2026

Watching the glaciers

THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it...
Dangerous agenda
29 Sep, 2026

Dangerous agenda

AS the world remains fixated on the US-Iran conflict, elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel is consolidating its grip...