Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that water shortage in Karachi is one of the serious problems for redressal of which the government has launched Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply K-IV project to provide 260 MGD water to the city on top priority basis. He added: “But this is not enough. I promise to launch K-IV phase-II on next August 14 to provide another 260 MGD to the residents and for the industrial growth.”
The chief minister said this while addressing a ceremony organised in connection with performing ground-breaking ceremony of K-IV at Super Highway Karachi on Sunday. The ceremony was attended by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, provincial ministers Nisar Khuhro and Jam Khan Shoro, DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, DG FWO Major General Afzal, ACS (dev) Mohammad Waseem, MD Water Misbahuddin and others.
Murad Ali Shah said when he was finance minister he had allocated enough funds for K-IV because it was an old project of 2007 but was kept on the back burner. The former chief minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, had also given special attention to this project. “We – Sharjeel Memon, the former local government minister, and Jam Khan Shoro, the sitting local government minister, and the water board has decided to award K-IV project to FWO,” he said. “The former chief minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, relaxed SPPRA rules and allowed the award of the contract to FWO because we all believe in your (FWO) work.”
The CM said that “you (Karachiites) would have to face another water shortage in the next summer after that you would have enough water to beat the heat,” he vowed, saying that K-IV would be completed within two years and “without waiting for its completion I would start K-IV phase-II on next August 14 and again it would be started with the FWO,” he assured.
It may be noted that K-IV is an Rs 15.25 billion project. Some 50 per cent 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 Kinjhar Lake.
Murad Ali Shah thanked the federal government for providing 50 per cent cost of the project. “The former CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah was determined to complete K-IV project even if federal government had refused to release its share,” he recalled. “This is a big gift for the people of Karachi and I am giving it to my citizens today,” he said and thanked Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad for his efforts for this project.
He said the Sindh government had given its land and resources for the project and “I am thankful to the officers who worked hard to approve its plan,” he said. “The Rs 10 billion Karachi package has been launched, out of 19 schemes we have approved 14 schemes so far and the approval of other schemes was in progress.”
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad also spoke on the occasion and appreciated the collective efforts f the Sindh government and the officers of water board. He thanked FWO DG Major General Afzal for starting the project with his commitment. “This project has delayed since long but finally it has been launched.”
He appreciated the efforts of law enforcement agencies, particularly of Rangers, for restoration of peace in Karachi.
DG FWO Major General Afzal in his speech highlighted the scope of K-IV project and vowed to complete it within two years.
Earlier, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Dr Ishratul Ibad along with Senior Minister for Food Nisar Khuhro and the minister for local government 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 K-IV project.
Earlier, on Sunday morning the chief minister started his day with flag hoisting at Mazar-e-Quaid where an impressive ceremony was oragnised. The CM along with his cabinet members reached at Mazar where they received Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.
The governor and the CM laid floral wreath on the mazar of the founder of nation and paid him rich tribute by offering fateh and recording their views on the struggle of great leader in the visitor’s book. The cabinet members, senior bureaucrats, including chief secretary Siddique Memon, IGP AD Khwaja and others were also with the governor.
