Karachi’s long-awaited K-4 water project, once seen as a solution to the city’s chronic water shortages, continues to be a distant hope for millions of residents. Despite nearly two decades since its launch, the project remains incomplete, leaving half of Karachi without an adequate water supply. Initial deadlines have come and gone, and the latest target for completion has now been pushed to December 2025.
According to WAPDA, only 50 percent of the current phase of the project has been completed. Originally slated for completion in 2023 and 2024, the project has suffered multiple delays, significantly driving up its costs. What began as a Rs126 billion endeavor has now ballooned to Rs180 billion. The delays are not limited to the main project either—the critical augmentation phase, necessary for ensuring city-wide water distribution, has yet to begin and has seen its cost rise by Rs10 billion, now totaling Rs80 billion.
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As Karachi’s population continues to grow, the water crisis has worsened, leaving residents grappling with severe shortages. Many parts of the city still rely on alternative sources, such as water tankers, to meet their daily needs. The prolonged delay in the K-4 project has further deepened frustrations as costs rise, but relief remains elusive.
The augmentation phase is particularly vital for the project’s success, as it will ensure that water from the K-4 scheme reaches all corners of Karachi. However, with significant portions of the work still incomplete, the city’s water crisis is far from being resolved. As the December 2025 deadline looms, many remain skeptical about whether the city’s longstanding water woes will finally come to an end.
