KW&SB embarks upon reform programme

Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KW&SB) embarks upon a massive reform programme to improve the service of the utility. "The action plan of these reforms will be submitted to the government by the end of October this year," KW&SB Managing Director Brigadier Iftikhar Haider told newsmen at a press conference here on Thursday.
The press conference was held in connection with the upgradation of KW&SB Public Relations Department. The KW&SB MD, while describing the reforms in the department a right step in the right direction hoped that it would also help in generating the much-needed revenue for the board.
He said that reforms are part of objectives to meet the challenges being faced by the department. "We have set up goals to deal with the challenges. Firstly, how to meet the growing demand of water in metropolis, rehabilitation of assets of the department and reforms programme," he added.
Brigadier Iftikhar said that at present the KW&SB is passing through phase-wise process restructuring. "We are trying to set the direction, which is hopefully completed very soon to enable it to perform its two functions of water and sewerage efficiently," he maintained.
To implement the reforms programme, he added, a system is being evolved, for which services of international experts are also being hired. He declared that all the work would be done after consultations and the process would move forward after thorough discussion.
Brigadier Iftikhar talked at length on the development projects in water and sewerage sector and confided that major improvement in water supply and sewerage system would be witnessed after the completion of these projects.
He said that 70 percent work has been completed on additional 100MGD K-III project, which would be completed by June 2006.
About Water Losses Prevention project, he said that the Planning Commission has approved the project and has asked to initiate work on this project. .He also spoke about the work on water treatment plant, filtration plant and projects of Tameer-e-Karachi Programme.
The federal government has also sought PC-1 for replacement of bulk water supply line in Malir, Saoodabad and Baldia Town, for which it would provide funds.
On K-IV water supply project, the KW&SB MD said physical work on the project is expected to start by 2007. He declared that massive activities in water and sewerage projects would be witnessed in the next two years.
To a question on hydrants, he said that it is difficult for the Water Board to take over the operation of thousands of water tankers from these hydrants due to limited workforce. "In fact, this is the reason behind delay in taking over hydrants from Pakistan Rangers, he said. However, he said that it would take over the hydrants by December this year.