The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has announced a significant increase in water and sewerage rates. The decision was made during the fifth board meeting chaired by Mayor Karachi and Chairman of KWSC, Murtaza Wahab, at the Chairman Secretariat Karsaz.
According to sources, the Karachi board approved a 23% overall increase in charges, with sewerage bills rising by 14% and water rates by 9%. The decision to keep the rate hike confidential initially was reportedly made to mitigate public backlash.
The meeting’s agenda was comprehensive, covering the approval of the minutes from the previous board meeting, reviewing the progress of past decisions, and sanctioning the annual budget of Rs 46.259 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Key decisions included the approval of proposed rates for water and sewerage services for both retail and bulk customers. Additionally, amendments to the Water Corporation Regulations 2024 were ratified, focusing on the extraction, use, and management of groundwater resources. A committee was also established to oversee the decommissioning of High Point Four Bay Phase One, part of the 65 MGD additional water supply initiative.
In line with the Water Corporation Act 2023, the meeting also sanctioned the creation of new posts, the appointment of consultants, and the renaming of various positions within the organization. The rate increase comes at a time when Karachi’s residents are already grappling with economic challenges, including inflation and rising utility costs.
Now people are focusing Electricity Bills and if that would be reduced, the government will recover the electricity reduction by increasing water and sewerage charges, lovely strategy. First the incompetent government should provide waters to the Karachi city, there are many illegal occupants in the shape of Goth and Katchi Abadis that have cut the main water line and some got illegal connections are swallowing the water quota or actual consumers.
Question is what facilities will be provided by Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, as Karachities, already facing the Shortage of Water, inspite of payment of monthly bills. The Karachities are still purchasing water through Water Tankers and also purchasing Drinking Water from different Companies. Why Not, the proper and pure water supply is made to the public, in all areas of Karachi. The rates are already increased of Electricity/Sui Gas/PTCL and now of KWSB. The inflation is increasing day by day, but Govt., showing decreasing trend of Inflation. The commodity prices are increasing, and people cant pay such huge Utility bills. The Govt., (Federal and Provincial) and related institutions must provide relief to its people, as possible. I hope everything will be allright in near future, if we properly utilise our resources for the benefit of the people of Pakistan. Everytime it is,said, Pakistan is going through a big Crisis, now it is a Economic Crisis, hope will be betterly tackled.