World Bank approves $240 million for Karachi water and sewerage improvement project

WASHINGTON: The World Bank has approved a $240 million financing package for the Second Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP-2), aimed at enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi.

Najy Benhassine, the World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, emphasised the importance of safely managed WASH services in improving public health and quality of life. He noted, “Safely managed WASH services are the foundation of public health and quality of life and are central to addressing the stunting crisis in Pakistan.”

The KWSSIP-2 will focus on expanding investments in water augmentation, water treatment, wastewater treatment and reuse, water distribution, and the rehabilitation of the sewer network. The project aims to benefit over 16 million people in Karachi by providing safe water supply and sanitation services, including improvements to infrastructure in informal settlements, known as Katchi Abadis, where over half a million people live.

According to the World Bank, about half of the beneficiaries will be women, while 58% will be youth aged 15–24. The project is designed to address key challenges in the city’s water and sanitation sectors, including reducing reliance on alternative water sources, cutting down the time spent collecting water, and improving public health by reducing waterborne diseases.

The project also focuses on promoting gender equality in the workforce. It will support the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) in its efforts to hire more women for technical and decision-making roles. Plans include providing technical training for women, creating internship opportunities for women graduates, and promoting women into higher positions within the organisation.

In the long term, KWSSIP-2 is expected to improve the performance and financial sustainability of KWSC while fostering public-private partnerships to enhance the delivery of WASH services. By 2030, the project aims to provide safely managed water services to nearly 16 million people and sanitation services to approximately 7.5 million people in Karachi.

The World Bank’s support for Karachi’s water and sewerage infrastructure builds upon the success of the first phase of the project (KWSSIP-1), which laid the groundwork for essential improvements in the city’s water and sanitation systems.