KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has approved Rs160 million grant for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to provide water through 1,000 tankers to the Karachiites daily.
The CM approved the grant, while chairing a meeting to discuss water shortage in Karachi. Local Government Minister Sharjeel Memon, Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui, Sindh Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, KWSB Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi and officials of the departments concerned were also present in the meeting.
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Sharjeel, giving a short-term solution to the city’s water problem, said that he was sending 200 tankers – costing Rs500 each for fuel and fare of a tanker. The CM asked him to make necessary arrangements to supply 1,000 water tankers daily in the city.
Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui informed the CM that in coordination with the KWSB chief, he would evolve a mechanism for a judicious distribution of water tankers in the affected areas. Sindh Chief Secretary Siddique Memon directed the KWSB to involve all the deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners so that water could reach the poor and affected people.
KWSB Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi informed the meeting about a shortage of 500 million gallon water daily in the city. “This issue would be solved when Rs25 billion K-4 water supply schemes are completed,” he said, adding that presently the worst-hit areas included Baldia Town, Orangi Town, North Karachi, Surjani Town and Manghopir.
The chief minister said that he would lay the foundation stone of the K-4 water supply project, said to be a long-term solution to the city’s water problems, next month and would personally request the prime minister to release its matching grant.
