On Wednesday morning, Syed Salahuddin Ahmed, General Director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC), presented at the 17th IWA Small Water and Wastewater Systems and the 9th IWA Resource Oriented Sanitation Conferences. He outlined the company’s structure and highlighted the major challenges it faces in water supply and management in southern Pakistan.
Obsolete infrastructure, large volumes of unbilled water, and the urgent need for capacity building and institutional development were among the critical issues Syed mentioned. "We are working on strategies to increase the available water volume, improve supply and distribution, and implement actions to ensure water quality and filtration processes," said the CEO of Karachi Water.
Enhancing sewer coverage, investing in research to reduce water wastage and pollution, seeking institutional partnerships with government agencies, and using social media to raise public awareness about the importance of rational water use and sanitation were also initiatives cited by Syed. "By 2030, we aim to diversify wastewater management, making waste management more inclusive and sustainable. As part of this agenda, the company has excelled in education and training initiatives focused on institutional development, preparing the region for better water and sanitation management in the future," he affirmed.
Key Initiatives by Karachi Water
The CEO outlined several ongoing initiatives to address the region’s water challenges, including:
Water Loss Reduction Program: The company is implementing a rigorous program to reduce water losses, directly impacting supply efficiency and system sustainability.
Construction of a New Canal Hub: A project to expand water distribution capacity by modernizing existing canal infrastructure.
Strengthening Legislation: The company is working to enhance water resource management legislation, creating a more regulated and secure environment for water and wastewater services.
Hosting the First Water Summit: Karachi Water led an international event focused on discussing solutions to the water crisis, bringing together sector experts and leaders.
Participation in the 2024 Tokyo Conference: The company took part in the international water conference, expanding its network and exploring new technological solutions for resource management.
Investor Visits: Karachi Water has welcomed investors interested in supporting projects, including modernizing the region’s water and wastewater infrastructure.
Another notable initiative was the development of a women’s training center focused on water and sanitation management. This center aims to create more leadership opportunities for women in water resource management, promoting inclusion and strengthening the role of women in the sector.
The company is also working to revitalize declining industries related to water use by encouraging more efficient water resource management in local industries. Additionally, it has invested in training and developing a digital platform to manage fieldwork effectively.
Following the CEO’s presentation, Mariana Teixeira Quaresma, Brazil Editor of Global Water Intelligence, introduced the editorial line of the publication, which addresses water-related challenges and opportunities. She highlighted data from a study conducted this year across 616 cities in 190 countries on how sanitation tariffs are structured.
Latin America, in particular, ranks third globally in terms of high water tariffs, with the Caribbean leading, followed by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. The increase reflects a combination of factors, one of which is the impact of the pandemic. The health crisis led to frozen tariffs during the pandemic’s peak, but as the economy recovers, adjustments are now being made.
Mariana emphasized that the rise in tariffs is not solely due to the cost of water itself but rather the increasingly complex and expensive process of wastewater treatment, driven by new environmental and sanitation requirements.
Another critical point raised by Mariana was the impact of climate change on the water sector. "The growing water scarcity and extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts and floods, have put pressure on water supply systems worldwide. Many cities are raising tariffs not only to cover operational and maintenance costs but also to fund necessary adaptations to mitigate the impacts of climate change," she observed.
Comments