CM Sindh discusses water projects with Chinese firm

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said the provincial government is making all out efforts by utilising local resources and expertise of donor agencies to make Karachi a livable city with peace and prosperity.

The chief minister was speaking to an eight-member delegation of Chinese state-owned company Energy China led by its President Mr Luo Bixiong who called on him to discuss and explore ways and means to work together with the Sindh government in water sector and water distribution in Karachi.

The meeting discussed K-IV project which has been halted temporarily to make necessary changes on its design. CM Sindh said the national engineering firm NESPAC is working on its design work would be started soon. He said K-IV was the most important project and he would ensure its completion.

The chief minister pointed out that the Karachi was the city of 17 million people and its water requirement has been estimated at 1200 gallon per day but was receiving only 500 MGD.

He said the government is working on different options to increase bulk water supply to the city so that its domestic as well as industrial requirement could be met.

The meeting discussed different options for working together. CM Sindh drew attention towards the Hub River source conveyance system that has several flaws,  and therefore line losses have been recorded much higher than acceptable. The Chinese company showed interest to improve the system from Hub source to Karachi.

On CM Sindh’s request, the Chinese company said that they would work out details including the estimated cost to install a 100MGD desalination plant in Karachi.

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It was pointed out previously the desalination technology was unfeasible, but now the latest technology has not only turned to be economical but also more efficient.

The third proposal which came under discussion was treatment of Malir River waste water to use for industrial purposes. The Chinese company said that they would work out a plant for treatment of waste water for Sindh government.

The Chinese firm was told that the provincial government was working with FWO on K-IV phase-I. Therefore the Chinese firms showed interest to work in phase-II and III of K-IV and proposed that if the cost project was too high then it could be included in CPEC projects.

CM Sindh said that he was working on different sectors such as infrastructure, water and sanitation and energy so that real investment in different sectors could be ensured.

“When you have best infrastructure, water and energy in surplus the investors will automatically throng to invest here,” he said, adding that this was the reason he was developing city infrastructure and was working to resolve water shortage issue.

He directed the Planning & Development department to have another meeting with Chinese company to firm up recommendations for working together in water sector.