Islamabad, July 22, 2024 – President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday directed the Sindh government to prioritize a comprehensive plan to prevent urban flooding in Karachi by adopting a sustainable, long-term strategy based on international best practices for managing sewage and stormwater.
President Zardari emphasized the need for a robust strategy while chairing a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr focused on saving Karachi from urban flooding and environmental degradation and promoting sustainable water resource development.
During the meeting, international water and sewage management experts provided a comprehensive presentation, proposing various solutions to address the challenges of urban flooding and sewage in Karachi. The proposed solutions were inspired by the tunnel sewer systems of Washington DC, the London Super Sewer Project, and the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System of Singapore.
Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Adjutant General Lt General Muhammad Asim Malik, Minister for Local Government Department of Sindh, Saeed Ghani, Mayor Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Sindh, Syed Asif Hyder Shah, CEO of Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation, Syed Salahuddin, Country Head Herrenknecht Pakistan, Col (r) Danyal Naveed Ahmed, senior government officials, and local and international water management experts attended the meeting.
The briefing highlighted the development of a network of small and large sewer tunnels under existing roads in high-flood zones of Karachi. It was emphasized that underground tunneling using modern techniques would not disturb the public, city traffic, or land ownership.
Experts revealed that Karachi generates almost 450 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage. They added that sewage and stormwater are currently collected in small and large open drains that flow into the Lyari and Malir rivers and are released untreated into the sea, polluting the marine ecosystem.
The existing network of drains has limited capacity, absorbing only around 50% of the rainwater under normal circumstances. Excess water is not absorbed by the system, causing urban flooding.
President Zardari underlined the need to complete the feasibility study for controlling flooding in Karachi through tunneling options within three months. He stated that Karachi and its coastal areas must be made clean and comparable to other metropolitan cities worldwide.
He also mentioned that the Government of Sindh should approach international donors to seek environmental financing for the project, given its significant environmental impacts.
The President noted that constructing the wastewater treatment system would also help supply treated water to Balochistan for agriculture, in addition to promoting the fisheries sector.
President Zardari also acknowledged that the city of Hyderabad faces similar urban flooding and sewage issues that need to be addressed on priority. He urged the authorities to extend their efforts to other affected regions to ensure comprehensive and sustainable solutions across the province.
The directive from President Zardari signals a critical step towards addressing the long-standing issue of urban flooding in Karachi, which has caused significant damage and disruption over the years. Implementing these international best practices is expected to bring much-needed relief to the residents and contribute to the city’s overall environmental health and resilience.