Karachi has taken a major step toward modernizing its water management system with the launch of smart water metering under the project financial backed by the World Bank.
According to Dawn News, the system is designed to ensure accurate measurement and improved oversight of water supply across Karachi.
Officials say the initiative will help tackle long-standing issues such as uneven distribution, water losses, and unreliable billing.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab, who also chairs the KWSC, described the move as a major step toward addressing one of the city’s most pressing civic challenges.
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He noted that the absence of a reliable measurement system in the past had negatively impacted both distribution efficiency and revenue collection.
The new system, he said, would improve operational performance and support transparent, fair billing practices.
As part of the initial phase, a pilot system is being deployed to monitor bulk water supply to industries, housing societies, and other large consumers.
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Around 100 monitoring chambers have been established at key locations to regulate and assess water flow.
The project will be rolled out in stages, with plans to extend metering to commercial, industrial, and eventually domestic users.
Once fully implemented, it will generate a comprehensive digital record of water usage across households, businesses, and industries.
According to the statement, advanced ultrasonic flow meters – being introduced in Pakistan for the first time – will be installed across major installations. These devices use sound wave technology to measure water flow with high precision.
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Key sites selected for installation include Ajmer Pump House, Nagan Chowrangi, University Reservoirs, Banaras Pump House, Korangi Model Park, Hub Reservoir, North East Karachi Reservoir, Chungi Naka, and Gharo Pumping Station.
During the pilot phase, bulk flow meters are being installed at 43 strategic locations to monitor area-wise distribution.
The system will provide real-time data, allowing authorities to detect shortages, reduce wastage, and ensure a more equitable supply of water across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
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The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize water and sewerage infrastructure in Karachi, with backing from the Sindh government and financial support from the World Bank under the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project.
Separately, officials have proposed increasing Karachi’s water quota from Hub Dam. The local government secretary has forwarded a summary to the Sindh chief minister to take up the matter with the federal government.
KWSC Chief Executive Ahmed Ali Siddiqui recently requested that the current allocation of 100 million gallons per day be doubled to 200 MGD, citing rapid population growth and worsening water shortages.
The city’s quota from Hub Dam has remained unchanged since 1981 despite a significant rise in demand.
