Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation and a Chinese company, the future modernization of Karachi’s dilapidated sewerage system now hinges on the findings of a detailed feasibility report.
The agreement was finalized on Wednesday with Lingzi Equipment Group at a ceremony specially attended by Karachi’s Mayor, Barrister Murtaza Wahab. According to a spokesperson, Water Corporation CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui signed the agreement on behalf of the city’s utility provider.
Mayor Wahab said the agreement aims to acquire modern technology to improve the city’s water and sanitation infrastructure, calling a sustainable and environmentally friendly system “the need of the hour for Karachi.”
He added that such international cooperation would create new opportunities for the improvement of the city’s infrastructure and provide better quality facilities to the citizens.
According to the Water Corporation, the memorandum establishes mutual cooperation for sewerage treatment and reclaimed water projects. It will begin with a detailed feasibility study of a proposed project at Pumping Station No. 2.
Officials clarified that the primary objective is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the project’s technical, financial, and operational viability. The final design, technology selection, and overall cost of the project will be determined based on the findings of this independent study.
Any final decision regarding investment, financing, or a potential joint venture is contingent upon the results of the feasibility report. Furthermore, officials added that obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals from the relevant authorities as per the law would be mandatory.
The terms of the non-transferable memorandum stipulate that any amendment will only be effective if it is made in writing and signed by both parties.
Chief Operating Officer Engineer Asadullah Khan and Chief Financial Officer Ammar Ali Khan also attended the signing ceremony.