The K-IV project is expected to provide an additional 260MGD water to Karachi. PHOTO: FILE
The execution of the project has been delayed by a few years and is surrounded in controversy as opposition members accuse the Sindh government of employing delay tactics.
Moving the resolution, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Adeel Ahmed said, “the officials involved in adopting delay tactics and creating problems [in way of the project’s execution] should be identified and take to task.”
The resolution, which was supported by the treasury benches, also states, “The house resolves that the Government of Sindh must initiate alternative water provision projects for Karachi to save the city from water shortage.”
As the debate over the issue began, opposition and treasury members levelled allegations against each other.
In his speech, Ahmed said that residents of various areas of Karachi have been facing acute water shortage and yet the government has remained non-serious about resolving the issue.
“The project was initiated in 2007 and its feasibility report was finalised in 2014. Finally, work on this project started in 2016, but all in vain,” he said, adding that the cost of the project has been increased from Rs11 billion to Rs25 billion, half of which is endured by the federal government.
“The Centre has released its share [of funds for the project] but we have no idea when the citizens [of Karachi] will be able to quench their thirst,” he remarked.
Leader of the opposition Firdous Shamim Naqvi and MQM-Pakistan member Javed Hanif too criticised the Sindh government for being negligent towards Karachi’s issues, particularly water and sanitation.
Voicing his grievances, Naqvi said, “Karachi Water and Sewerage Board has failed to provide water and resolve the sanitation issue in the city.” He asked the Sindh government to give a final date for finalising the project.
Shah, while supporting the resolution clarified that PPP-led government was not responsible for the delay in finalising the feasibility report. Instead, the feasibility report, made in haste during Musharraf’s regime, had blunders, he claimed.
The local government minister further informed the assembly members that the government was working on the project no party other than the Frontier Works Organisation was awarded the contract for the project.
He further said that the government “is ready to form a committee to investigate the delay in the project and hold those responsible for the delay accountable.”
Responding to opposition members about neglecting Karachi, he said that the Sindh government has undertaken projects worth more than Rs100 billion for the metropolis.
“We are paying Rs400 million each month to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation for its employees’ salaries, while no other municipal committee or corporation receives funds for salaries from the Sindh government,” he said, adding that Karachi is the capital of Sindh and the provincial government has focused on its development.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2019.
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