Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah revealed that Karachi’s water supply system is being enhanced under a $1.6 billion program supported by the World Bank which includes operational upgrades and expansions under Phase-2 to enhance efficiency.
He said that just after inspecting the rehabilitation work of the existing Hub Canal and the construction of a new Hub Canal. He noted that inspecting projects on-site [Hub Canal] provides better insights than reviewing progress from an office setting.
The chief minister claimed that Sindh’s development pace surpasses that of other provinces and even the federal government. He pointed out that despite Sindh contributing half the funds for the Jamshoro-to-Sehwan road project, the completion remains pending, while Sindh has successfully finished several major projects using its own resources.
Shah revealed that Karachi’s water supply system is being enhanced under a $1.6 billion program supported by the World Bank. ‘This program includes operational upgrades and expansions under Phase 2 to enhance efficiency,’ he stated, adding that the World Bank has assured financial support on the condition that administrative reforms are implemented.
Addressing concerns regarding water canals, the chief minister asserted that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has never been silent on Sindh’s water rights. ‘If some refuse to listen, what can we do?’ he remarked, emphasising that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari have clearly articulated their stance on safeguarding Sindh’s share of water resources.
Commenting on the crisis in Parachinar, Murad described it as a humanitarian tragedy, where people are suffering from shortages of food and medicine. He mentioned that his government is providing medication and assistance to the affected region, but the primary issue lies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and must be addressed there.
Regarding the ongoing protests in Karachi, the chief minister stated that initially, protestors were allowed to conduct a peaceful sit-in at Numaish. However, as their presence increased and they blocked traffic, it caused public inconvenience. ‘Our senior [PPP] leaders, including Saeed Ghani, Murtaza Wahab, and Waqar Mehdi, held discussions with the protestors, urging them to end the sit-ins peacefully,’ he said.
The chief minister reported that administrative actions were taken in the morning to clear eight out of twelve protest sites, while four locations remained occupied.
Murad acknowledged that managing protests could cause some disruption but assured that the government has no intention of harming the protestors. Rather, efforts will continue to engage in dialogue and resolve the situation amicably.
The CM stressed that while his government supports the right to peaceful protest, causing inconvenience to the public is unacceptable. He expressed a willingness to sit down and discuss issues with the protestors but emphasised that the suffering of the people must come to an end.
Murad reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving public services and addressing key challenges such as water supply and infrastructure development. He concluded by encouraging citizens to support government initiatives and urged everyone to contribute to the province’s progress. ‘Sindh’s journey of development will continue,’ he stated, expressing optimism for a prosperous 2025.
In line with the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government is taking significant measures to provide better facilities to the public and is working tirelessly to resolve the province’s issues. The Chief Minister emphasized that Karachi’s most pressing problem is water scarcity, which the Sindh government is committed to resolving under the guidance of the PPP leadership.
Regarding the construction of the new Hub Canal and the restoration of the old Hub Canal, Murad expressed determination to address Karachi’s water shortage. ‘We have initiated multiple projects to meet the city’s water demands, and the provincial government is fully committed to their timely completion.’
During the inspection, he was accompanied by Minister of Local Government Saeed Ghani, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, CEO KWSB Syed Salahuddin, COO of the Water Corporation Engineer Asadullah Khan, Project Director of Hub Canal Sikandar Zardari, and other senior officials.
The chief minister highlighted that the Sindh government has launched a project for the construction of a new Hub Canal and the restoration of the old Hub Canal to provide immediate additional water to Karachi. ‘The work is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed by December 2025,’ he stated.
Shah added that the Hub Canal project included upgrading the Hub Pumping stations, expanding capacity from 80 MGD to 100 MGD and restoring ageing infrastructure. The Rs12.76 billion projects, funded entirely by the Sindh government, are expected to be completed by December 2025.
The Hub Canal reconstruction is designed to upgrade pumping stations, expand capacity from 80 MGD to 100 MGD, and restore aging infrastructure. The Rs12.76 billion project, funded entirely by the Sindh government, is expected to be completed by December 2025.
Once the new Hub Canal is completed, the chief minister believes Karachi’s water problems will be significantly alleviated, especially in the districts of West and Keamari. He assured that efforts are being made to further improve the situation.