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.