Pakistan’s financial capital Karachi has been facing a debilitating water crisis for years due to the drying up of the Indus River in its Sindh province. Exacerbating this crisis, ongoing repair work on a major water supply line has disrupted access to over 400 million gallons of water over the past two days, leaving half of the city’s residents facing acute water shortage.
The crisis stems from leaks and bursts in the aging pipeline infrastructure, exacerbated by frequent power outages at the pumping stations. These issues have become routine and continue to hinder the already strained water distribution system, according to Dawn.
With repair work expected to take another two days, residents in many areas are struggling to access even basic water supplies, leading to widespread frustration and hardship.
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) had begun repair operations on an 84-inch pipeline section on April 10, disrupting water supply in several areas. While repairs have been completed at three to four critical points, work continues on the remaining sections. According to a KWSC spokesperson, around 200 million gallons of water is currently not being delivered to the city due to the repair works.
At present, Karachi is receiving about 450 million gallons of water daily, much below the required amount, which has had drastic effects in several localities in the metropolis, such as Jamshed Town, PIB Colony, the Old City Area, Clifton, etc.
With water supply temporarily disrupted, officials have called upon residents to conserve water and use it judiciously during this period. The KWSC assured citizens that repair work is being expedited and is likely to be completed by Sunday.
