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KARACHI, Jul 24 (APP):Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah met with Federal Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Moeen Wattoo here at CM House on Thursday and discussed major water infrastructure projects, including the K-IV project.
According to CM House spokesperson, the meeting focused primarily on the progress and funding of the K-IV water supply project. CM Murad Ali Shah stated that the Sindh government is releasing Rs. 1.2 billion for the project, which aims to supply 260 million gallons per day (MGD) of water to Karachi.
The federal minister informed the CM that he had recently visited the K-IV project site along with Minister Nasir Shah.
Syed Murad Ali Shah said that so far, Rs. 86 billion has been spent on the K-IV project, with an additional Rs. 78 billion required for its completion. He urged the federal government to provide the necessary funding to ensure the project is completed on time.
CM Shah added that the Sindh government was working on expanding the project, and reiterated the need for prompt federal support. Minister Wattoo assured that additional funds will be arranged after consultation with the Prime Minister.
Murad Ali Shah also highlighted that 100 MGD of water is currently being supplied to Karachi from Hub Dam. The Sindh government has repaired the old channel and constructed a new one to improve water supply. He appealed to the federal government to increase Karachi’s water quota from Hub Dam by another 100 MGD.
The CM and the federal minister agreed to form a joint committee comprising WAPDA and water experts to assess water availability. CM Shah stated that a case would be presented in the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to increase Sindh’s share of water from Hub Dam from 100 to 200 MGD.
During the meeting, both sides also discussed the RBOD (Right Bank Outfall Drain) project. CM Murad Ali Shah informed that the Sindh government has already spent Rs. 1 billion due to heavy rains. A separate committee has been formed to address technical issues in the RBOD project, with a report expected within three days.
CM Sindh emphasized that water distribution should be in accordance with the existing agreement. He recalled that during former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s tenure, a case was submitted regarding water distribution, and a committee headed by the Attorney General had presented a report which was to be approved by the CCI but remains pending.
Sindh CM urged the federal minister to facilitate direct meetings between irrigation officials of Sindh and Punjab to resolve inter-provincial water distribution issues.
The meeting attended by Sindh Planning and Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, and Principal Secretary to CM Abdul Rahim Shaikh. WAPDA Chairman Naveed Asghar Chaudhry, DG Mian Riaz, and K-IV Project Director Aamir Mughal was held here at CM House.