City's K-IV drifts towards 2029

Major contracts remain pending as costs balloon from Rs25b to Rs224b

KARACHI:

For millions of Karachi residents struggling with chronic water shortages, the long-awaited K-IV project was supposed to be the solution. Instead, two decades after it was first conceived, the mega water supply scheme remains mired in delays, rising costs and unfinished infrastructure, with officials now indicating that completion may still be at least three years away.

Senior officials at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) have acknowledged that, at the current pace of work, the federal government's December 2026 completion target appears increasingly unrealistic. According to officials and project sources, the project is more likely to be completed by early 2029, provided there are no further delays.

Karachi currently requires approximately 1.2 billion gallons of water per day, but receives only around 650 million gallons, leaving a substantial supply gap. The K-IV project was conceived to help bridge that deficit by bringing additional water from Keenjhar Lake to the city.

The project was formally revived in 2014 as a joint initiative of the federal and Sindh governments, with an estimated cost of Rs25 billion. However, repeated design revisions, administrative hurdles and changing government priorities have significantly delayed progress. Today, the project's estimated cost has risen to approximately Rs224 billion, with officials warning that further increases remain possible.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the augmentation works between Nipa Chowrangi and Hassan Square, a stretch of just 2.7 kilometres, began in November 2025 but have yet to be completed. Officials note that this is only the preliminary phase of the project, while the most challenging component - construction of the R-1, R-2 and R-3 distribution corridors - has not even begun.

More significantly, contracts for these major pipeline segments have yet to be awarded.

According to project documents, the R-1 corridor will extend 26km, R-2 approximately 40, and R-3 around 28km, bringing the total length of new distribution pipelines to roughly 94 kilometres. These routes will pass through some of Karachi's busiest urban corridors and densely populated neighbourhoods.

Project sources estimate that laying the R-1, R-2 and R-3 pipelines alone will cost around Rs80 billion. About 80 per cent of this amount is expected to be financed through loans from international financial institutions, while the Sindh government will provide the remaining 20 per cent. The rest of the project - including transmission infrastructure, pumping stations, filtration plants and associated facilities - is estimated to cost approximately Rs124 billion.

Under the project framework, federal govt is responsible for constructing the transmission system, pumping stations and filtration facilities, while Sindh govt is tasked with land acquisition, augmentation works, electricity supply and irrigation-related infrastructure required to facilitate water delivery from Keenjhar Lake. Officials warn that the most disruptive phase of the project is yet to come. Installation of 72-inch and 96-inch diameter pipelines will require extensive excavation along several major roads and thoroughfares across Karachi, potentially causing significant traffic congestion and disruption for commuters.

One of the key routes, the R-2 corridor, is planned to run from the Northern Bypass Toll Plaza along the Super Highway, through Jangal Goth, Sohrab Goth, Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, Disco Bakery, Gulshan Chowrangi, Rab Medical Centre, Sir Syed University and Nipa Chowrangi, before connecting with the augmentation line and continuing through Hassan Square, Gharibabad, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Habib Bank Chowrangi and ultimately reaching Gulbai.

Sources further claim that portions of the ongoing augmentation work have faced quality-related concerns from international financiers.

A senior KWSC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that work on the city's primary water distribution network has not yet commenced and contracts remain pending. "If progress continues at the current pace, completion by 2029 is possible. However, any additional delays could push the timeline even further."

Once completed, the K-IV project is expected to supply an additional 250 million gallons of water per day to Karachi, increasing total daily availability to approximately 900 million gallons. Even then, experts estimate the city could continue facing a shortfall of between 300 and 400 million gallons per day.

A senior Sindh govt minister acknowledged that repeated design changes and escalating costs have complicated implementation, warning that several difficult stages of the project still lie ahead before Karachi can finally receive the additional water it has awaited for decades.