City seeks to double Hub Dam water share

Sindh moves CCI for approval as WAPDA calls it inter-provincial issue

KARACHI:

The Sindh government has approached the Centre to seek approval for doubling Karachi's water supply from the Hub Dam to 200 million gallons per day (MGD), amid a worsening water crisis in the metropolis.

According to sources, KWSC has forwarded a detailed summary to the chief minister, requesting formal approval for the enhanced water allocation. The move comes as the city continues to grapple with acute water shortages driven by rapid population growth and rising demand.

Officials said that Karachi has been receiving 100 MGD from the Hub Dam since 1981, despite a significant increase in population and water requirements over the decades. Meanwhile, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has termed the issue an inter-provincial matter, stating that any revision in water allocation between Sindh and Balochistan falls within the jurisdiction of the CCI. It maintained that the existing supply is being provided under federal approval and PC-I provisions, and that any increase or decrease in quota cannot be decided unilaterally.

Authorities said that with the completion of the new Hub Canal, expected by August 13, Karachi will have the capacity to receive up to 200 MGD from the dam.