Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

A high-powered World Bank delegation, has suggested the Sindh government to operate the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board as a commercial organization like K-Electric for revenue generation.

This emerged during a meeting between the WB delegation and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held here on March 6. The delegation, headed by WB Water Global Director Mr. Saroj Kumar Jha and WB Country Director Mr. Najy Binhassine, discussed the reforms in Karachi Water Board.

According to the World Bank Water Global Director, the Karachi Water board needs to operate like a commercial organization. He emphasized that water is more crucial than electricity. However, people tend to overlook its importance because its rates are lower than electricity, and they don’t take the payment of its bill seriously.

It was pointed out that when the recoveries of the K-Electric were better why the water board could not make its recoveries to meet its all expenditures? The water board is so financially weak that it has to depend on the provincial government every month to pay its electricity bill.

Mayor Karachi who happens to be the chairman of the Water Board and attended the meeting, said that since the introduction of reforms in KWSB the recoveries have started increasing. He said that KWSBC has recovered Rs.1.6 billion during the last quarter while its earlier recoveries were less than Rs.1 billion and then Rs1.1 billion.

The chief minister said that the water board was working on the installation of meters to gauge the usage. “The water board is closely working with the World Bank experts to make it more efficient in its structure and vibrant in its service delivery,” he said.

Read: Experts discuss new proposed location of Sukkur Barrage

Another matter that came under discussion was the improvement of the irrigation system. The CM said that due to floods of 2010, 2011 and then 2022, the entire irrigation system has been affected badly. He said that the provincial government was working with the World Bank for the improvement of the irrigation system.

The World Bank Water Global Director said he has visited Sukkur Barrage termed it a marvelous barrage. The CM said that its repair and maintenance remained a regular feature.

The CM said that the canal system has also been affected due to floods which was being improved through the provincial resources and with the assistance of the World Bank.

The chief minister and the World Bank delegation have agreed to collaborate on improving the efficiency of the water board and irrigation system.

Read: 10 Gates of Sukkur Barrage Permanently Closed

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The post WB Official Suggests Commercialization of Karachi Water Board first appeared on Sindh Courier.