Karachi faces a severe water crisis as residents report having no water for 12 days. Despite repairs to the ruptured water line on Karachi University campus, many localities across all seven districts of the city still experience water shortages.
The issue began when an 84-inch main ruptured on April 29, disrupting the water supply. While the repair work on the pipeline has been completed, the restoration of normal supply has been delayed. The repaired line now fills with water at low pressure, further delaying the return of regular service.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the situation and instructed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) to restore normal water supply. However, sources within the KWSC state that it may take several more days to resume proper supply. Karachi typically needs over 1,200 million gallons of water daily (MGD), but the city has been receiving only 400 MGD—about 40 percent of the usual supply.
This shortage has caused widespread frustration among residents, especially during the scorching weather. Many have been forced to buy water at exorbitant rates, exacerbating their difficulties.
Affected areas include Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Sheme-33, PECHS, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road, Chanesar Town, Jinnah Town, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Pak Colony, Golimar, Shershah, the old city area, Landhi, Korangi, and PAF Base Masroor, among others.
Initially, KWSC stated the repair work would be completed in 96 hours. However, the repair took longer due to the replacement of a 32-foot section of the damaged line. A spokesperson for KWSC claimed that normal water supply had been restored, with areas receiving water according to the schedule.
Residents Remain Without Water as Karachi Faces Ongoing Supply Issues
However, residents from various localities remain dissatisfied, stating that they have not received water for days. Zaid Rabbani, a resident of PECHS, shared that their locality had no water since the rupture. “We arranged a water tanker, but had to pay extra,” he said.
In Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Tauseef Ali Shah said water supply was restored for only an hour. “The pressure was too low, and we could only collect two buckets,” he said. KWSC sources explained that water pressure was initially kept low as a precaution after completing the repairs.
Experts note that Karachi’s water supply infrastructure is aging, as the main lines, ranging from 48 inches to 84 inches in diameter, were laid in 1956 and 1971. The frequent leaks and ruptures in these lines have made water distribution unreliable.
Despite the ongoing crisis, KWSC sources assure that the situation should normalize within the next couple of days.
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