KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for an urgent and comprehensive plan to prevent urban flooding in Karachi amid the ongoing monsoon rains. The city experienced significant waterlogging on Saturday even after light showers, resulting in the tragic deaths of two minor boys.
Last week, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) to conduct a master-plan study within six months. This study aims to address urban flooding caused by clogged drains, inadequate outfall infrastructure, and increasing squatter settlements and encroachments.
At a meeting held at the President House, Zardari emphasized the need for the Sindh government to adopt a sustainable, long-term strategy based on international best practices for managing sewage and stormwater. He proposed a feasibility study to explore tunneling options to control flooding within three months.
The meeting, attended by CM Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and other senior officials, featured presentations from international water management experts. Proposed solutions included implementing tunnel sewer systems similar to those in Washington DC, London, and Singapore.
Zardari urged the Sindh government to seek international environmental financing for the project due to its significant environmental benefits. He also highlighted the potential to supply treated water to Balochistan for agriculture and support the fisheries sector through the construction of a wastewater treatment system.
During the briefing, experts noted that Karachi produces nearly 450 million gallons of sewage daily, which currently flows untreated into the sea, polluting the marine ecosystem. They proposed developing a network of sewer tunnels to manage sewage and stormwater without disrupting city life.
Additionally, the weather forecast predicts partly cloudy and humid conditions with light rain expected on Tuesday and Wednesday in Karachi. Moderate to heavy falls are also anticipated in various districts across Sindh.
President Zardari also acknowledged similar urban flooding and sewage issues in Hyderabad, which need to be addressed urgently.
Story by Imtiaz Ali | Nadir Guramani
