Water is essential for entire forms of life as it contains all properties crucial for survival/existence. All humans need a certain specific amount of water irrespective of age, gender, status (rich or poor). It is one thing that is must for every living being: humans, animals, and plants. In this regard, it is believed that government is responsible to provide and make the water supply available to its people. Karachi is one mega city. It is a business hub, hence attracts urban migration from all over the country.
The Chronic Water Crisis:
City’s water situation often faces a severe crisis which is characterised as chronic. In many areas, residents experience regular water shortages. The situation, instead of improving, is continuously deteriorating.
A study I recall, read a few years ago, painted a very scary picture of water shortages and its repercussions. As per the research study/analysis carried in 1995, it concluded that 29 countries with a population totaling 436 million will experience water stress by 2025, which will increase to about 48 countries, and the number of people who will be adversely affected will exceed 1.4 billion. Majority of this obviously belong to the least developed countries. Moreover, for 2035 the figures referred were even worse, estimated to 3 billion people who will live in water stressed countries [UNEP(2002)].
This is enough to support the point that as the city expands at a phenomenal rate, the issues always multiply. Another very important reason mentioned repeatedly by researchers is the construction of high-rise buildings. It is termed as one of the major problems in an urban poorly planned settlements which adversely affect the water supply issue. Question arises why the alternative arrangements not made/adopted?
Shortages Across the City: Even the posh localities as of Defence/Clifton/P.E.C.H.S face the severe issue of water scarcity. The residents of these posh areas hardly get piped line water supply. They are forced to buy tanker water if not daily, then every alternate day for normal daily consumption. For residential consumers of urban/peri-urban settlements the piped mode usually works with the help of suction pumps.
It is noteworthy that consumers belonging to different categories used different modes of water supply depending on their need and financial capacity, also willingness to pay. In Defence/Clifton and P.E.C.H.S area, water is inaccurately supplied and suction pumps are a must. However, now suction pumps have become a necessary arrangement in all areas/localities of the city.
Supply of drinking water is even worse. People from every strata are forced to buy drinking water, again choosing from hundreds of brands that suit them cost-wise. Every brand with different quality-low, better, and best-tends to offer false satisfaction to the consumer.
Impact on Livelihoods and Health: Water is a critical lifeline for all living things. It is one essential ingredient that helps in sustaining agro-based economies to combat food insecurities, and to produce extra to export. Water scarcity affects farming and simultaneously the nutritional need of the people, specially low income group, tends to hit harder, hence, health issues break out in children-most specifically malnutrition and more. Nevertheless, to ascertain the well-being of the entire population, including human as well as wildlife, it’s time to resolve water scarcity issues.
A History of Failed Water Projects: Karachi’s water supply issues are not new but date back to the 19th century. Historically, in the 1940’s a supplementary arrangement was made by introducing Haleji conduit to water supply in order to alleviate the shortage. After independence during the 1950’s, Karachi Joint Water Board was established to expand the system by drawing water from the Indus River. In 1957, it became, Karachi Development Authority (KDA). Later in 1983, renamed and reformed as KW&SB on the recommendation of the World Bank. Afterwards, the Hub Dam became operational during the 1980’s. Unfortunately, its designed capacity of 100 million gallons per day wasn’t met, rather operating at 49 MGD. In the process K-II project added 100 MGD to the daily water supply. Then in 2002/2003 K-IV water supply project was planned to supply 650 MGD, which have been plagued by significant delays. In the process, cost overruns and not done much. On the contrary, the K-III project contributed the additional 100 MGD.
Despite all the above efforts, City’s water supply constantly faced challenges and still facing. These contributed by:
Rapid population growth, mainly due to Urban migration.
Aging infrastructure that cause leaks, as well as water theft by hydrants.
Unequal distribution.
Karachi relies on various sources, including surface as well as ground water but still face shortfalls. In fact, water demand is much more then the capacity. Against 11 to 15 million gallons, the estimated demand is 70 million gallons per day. Every system failed to supply water to the mega city equal to its demand. Reason spelled at different forums being that water resource technology is high in cost. Wasteful of water makes Karachi vulnerable to system failure and also does not support agriculture development in the region. Important to note, as the population increases on a daily basis so does the demand.
In the city’s densely populated low income areas like Korangi, for example, men and boys during midnight get up not to pray but to fight with time to get into the queue with blue water cans, in order to fetch a pale of water for home use. Trust me, this is no way as pleasant a trip as:
Jack and Jill Went up the Hill to fetch a pale of Water ‘(the nursery rhyme every child happily sing)
Whereas in posh areas of Karachi, one on a regular basis witness water tankers barrelling on the roads day and night. The water supply crisis seems to be unending. Neither of the plans since the 19th century worked effectively. K-IV project no doubt started with great enthusiasm but failed to deliver due to reasons unknown. On surface, things were goody goody.
The Tanker Mafia and Water as a Commodity
Now the water tanker mafia is questioned as from where these tankers get water… why can’t that be channelized to pipes in residential areas. Tanker mafia minting money by exploiting the natural need of the helpless people.
Interestingly, one find only very few fortunate residential areas which get water through pipeline and thus, considered it as a public good as well as public utility. Hence, it is supposed to be a government’s responsibility to provide water to its people. While for those who buy from alternative sources, consider it as a saleable good.
Climate Change and Solutions: Water scarcity or low quality water is not a choice but a severe problem to address urgently. Now is a time to analyse nature as well. How quick the climate change taking place globally… Karachi is no exception. City unusually experiencing heavy rains, causing urban flooding. Current 2025 rains not the first time, but with gaps happening since a decade now.
If construction of Dams is time consuming and high cost project, time has arrived to build small reservoirs as part of efforts made and plan to reserve rain water. This is not a rocket science and easily doable. Our neighbour has already taken lead in building dams as well as number of reservoirs.
The Indus Water Treaty: Currently, in April 2025, India temporarily though suspended water supply has raised questions about the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). Although treaty has been resilient. This is viewed as the violation of international law. Indus Waters treaty (IWT) is a 1960 agreement between India and Pakistan. It divides the water of the Indus River. India can repeat the episode which will affect farming as our agriculture system depends heavily on the Indus water.
. Later in 1983, renamed and reformed as KW&SB){kind=link}