Only 13 licenses issued for subsoil water extraction

All previous licenses cancelled after revision of rules, says minister

KARACHI:

The declining water table in the city has prompted the provincial to curtail issuance of commercial extraction of subsoil water, local government minister told the Sindh Assembly on Monday.

From 34 subsoil water extraction licenses granted in 2018, the government has come down to issuing only 13 in 2024, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani said.

He was responding to call attention notices submitted by the legislators regarding shortage of potable water in Korangi due to extraction of the phenomenal subsoil water by the nearby industries.

"As many as 13 licenses have been issued so far for the extraction of subsoil water in Karachi under the revised rules adopted by the Sindh government for the purpose," Saeed Ghani said.

All the previous licenses issued under the 2018 law have been cancelled, he said.

He told the house that the Sindh government had adopted a law in 2018 for the first time to manage the system of subsoil water extraction in Karachi.

Initially, 34 licenses were issued for subsoil water extraction under the 2018 law as 20 of them were later rescinded due to violation of the rules. The house adopted a revised law for the purpose in 2024.