ISLAMABAD, April 19 (ABC): The first phase of the $100 million Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP-I) is nearing completion.
According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the broader programme is estimated at $1.6 billion. It will be executed in four overlapping phases over 12 years. Moreover, the project is jointly financed by the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Government of Sindh.
Approved in June 2019, the project became effective in February 2020. Phase-I, also called SOP-1, has a duration of five-and-a-half years. It is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2026.
Project progress and contracts
According to official documents, 26 work contracts were awarded under Phase-I. Of these, 17 have been completed. Meanwhile, five are in progress. In addition, four contracts have been shifted to Phase-II.
Similarly, 13 consultancies were awarded. Out of these, five have been completed. Four are ongoing, while four have been moved to the next phase.
In terms of procurement, six goods contracts were awarded. Of these, four have been completed. One is under execution, and one has been transferred to Phase-II.
Infrastructure upgrades across Karachi
A large portion of infrastructure development has been completed. This includes the repair and replacement of old water supply and sewerage lines.
The work covers multiple districts, including Karachi Central, Korangi, Malir, East, West, and Kemari. As a result, the project aims to improve service delivery across the city.
Additional components are also progressing steadily. These include the construction of customer service centres and operational facilities. Several have been completed, while others are underway.
Modernisation and pending components
However, some planned initiatives have been moved to Phase-II. These include the enhancement of geographic information systems (GIS) and the asset management programme.
The project also focuses on modernisation. It includes the installation of consumer and bulk flow meters. Furthermore, SCADA systems are being introduced to improve efficiency and monitoring of water distribution.
Overall, Phase-I is progressing steadily. Therefore, it remains on track for completion by mid-2026.
