The federal government has moved the Rs. 171.81 billion Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) Phase I to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval, with the project’s cost rising by 975 percent from its original estimate.

The development was announced during a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, which approved seven projects worth a combined Rs. 252.97 billion. Four projects worth Rs. 12.44 billion were approved at the CDWP level, while three major schemes valued at Rs. 240.54 billion, including K-IV, were referred to ECNEC.

The K-IV project is designed to supply 650 million gallons per day (MGD) of water to Karachi through infrastructure including an intake structure at Keenjhar Lake, transmission pipelines, pumping stations, reservoirs, and filtration plants.

Iqbal termed K-IV critical for improving Karachi’s water supply situation and directed the Sindh government to submit an implementation plan for the 50 megawatt power supply and distribution system required to operate the project.

Besides K-IV, the CDWP also referred the Rs. 37.13 billion Pakistan Space Centre project and the Rs. 31.59 billion Lahore Water and Waste Water Management Project to ECNEC.

The Pakistan Space Centre project aims to develop domestic capabilities for satellite design, assembly, integration, testing, and qualification under the National Space Programme 2047. The Lahore water project includes a surface water treatment plant, transmission infrastructure, and measures to reduce water losses.

The CDWP separately approved four Higher Education Commission projects, including the Strengthening of Women University of AJ&K Bagh, academic facilities at Emerson University Multan, the Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management Sciences, and the Strengthening of KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.

During the meeting, the planning minister directed the HEC to prepare detailed university master plans, ensure construction contracts are awarded only to prequalified firms, appoint qualified project directors, and include photographic evidence of completed work in revised project documents.