KARACHI: Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday approved Rs14.7 billion as 20 per cent share from the Sindh government for the Rs74bn Augmentation Project of the much-awaited Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, commonly known as K-IV, and directed the planning and development department to start the process of hiring consultants for the project.

The Augmentation Project is one of the components of the K-IV to be carried out by the Sindh government and funded by 40pc each from the World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and 20pc by the provincial government. However, it has been pending final approval from the federal government since March 2022.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) had in Aug 2023 conditionally approved the PC-1 of the K-IV Project, that also included Rs74 billion K-IV Augmentation Project, asking the provincial government to give justification of Rs40bn increase in the cost. In response, the provincial government on Feb 13, 2014 submitted its revised compliance report giving the justification.

A statement issued from the CM House said that while approving Rs14.7bn as provincial government’s share, the CM was told that no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the K-IV Augmentation Project works were being sought from 12 federal and provincial agencies for identification and relocation of their systems.

WB and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to bear remaining 80pc cost of Rs74bn scheme

He directed the local government minister and Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation to pursue them for the issuance of the NOC.

Mr Shah said he would talk to Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal to expedite the pending K-IV project.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over the impact of climate change on water scarcity, the CM said it could be addressed by introducing a new cropping pattern that included low delta crops aimed at reducing water consumption and increasing efficiency in agriculture.

Presiding over a joint meeting of the irrigation and agriculture departments, he said that during the Kharif season-2024, water shortage was expected to increase by 30 per cent, but it could be more acute, therefore, the agriculture sector would suffer.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2024