ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers have expressed their concern over delay in the completion of the Rs242bn K-IV project, meant for water supply to Karachiites, amid various uncertainties.

After detailed deliberations, National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water Resources, led by Ahmad Atteeq Anwar, constituted a sub-committee on the Greater Karachi Water Supply Project (K-IV) “to investigate the non-completion of K-IV project despite huge expenditure incurred”.

MNAs from Karachi Javed Hanif Khan, Syed Amin ul Haque, Syed Waseem Hussain and Shazia Marri expressed concerns that despite massive investments over a period of 15 years or so, there was no hope that the people of Karachi would be benefitting from the project in the near future. They were also worried that the project’s implementation, particularly relating to Karachi-related augmentation, may leave the people rather suffering because of unfinished civic works including roads etc.

Wapda Chairman retired Gen Muhammad Saeed told the panel that his organisation was geared and committed to complete the first phase of its Rs171bn K-IV project by December this year as per the deadline, provided the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) makes available 50mw electricity under its augmentation project and the federal government provided necessary funding.

He said that Rs10bn earmarked in the public sector development programme (PSDP) for the project was insufficient and that the Prime Minister Office and the Ministry of Finance had promised to provide additional financing through technical supplementary grant.

“We had a meeting on this [on Wednesday] and the PMO and MOF have renewed their promise,” he said.

KWSC’s chief executive officer told the meeting that funding was no issue for the K-IV augmentation project as the World Bank loan was approved and being released; and tenders had already been issued for the required works in the Karachi city and all agencies involved in various services, including gas, electricity, road etc were on board.

Responding to questions, he committed that his organisation “would be absolutely responsible” for any delay beyond five-and-a-half years.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2026