Sindh Real Estate News and Land Insights

Karachi : ReNews Pakistan
The Sindh government has inaugurated the Karachi Industrial Water Park (TP-1), a major wastewater recycling project designed to supply treated municipal wastewater to industries while conserving freshwater for drinking and household consumption across the city.
The project will have the capacity to provide up to 100 million gallons per day (MGD) of recycled water to Karachi’s industrial sector once its two phases become fully operational, potentially reducing the pressure that factories place on the city’s limited freshwater resources.
Under the first phase, the facility will supply 35 MGD of treated wastewater for industrial use. Work on the second phase, which will add another 65 MGD to the system, is being launched alongside the inauguration of the initial phase.
The second phase is targeted for completion within six months. Once the expansion is completed, the facility is expected to provide industries with up to 100 MGD of treated process water during 2027.
The initiative is based on recycling municipal wastewater that would otherwise remain underutilised or contribute to environmental problems. After treatment, the recycled water will be supplied to factories for industrial processes, replacing a portion of the freshwater currently consumed by the industrial sector.
The recycled supply is intended specifically for industrial purposes and will not be used as drinking water.
Karachi has long faced pressure on its water supply system due to rapid population growth, urban expansion, industrial demand and constraints in existing water infrastructure. Diverting treated wastewater to industries is expected to allow a greater share of freshwater supplies to remain available for residential and other essential uses.
The project also introduces a more circular approach to urban water management by treating wastewater as a reusable resource rather than waste requiring disposal. Besides conserving freshwater, recycling municipal wastewater can help reduce the environmental burden associated with untreated or inadequately treated sewage entering natural waterways and coastal areas.
The Sindh government is advancing the industrial water park in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders as part of wider efforts to strengthen Karachi’s water infrastructure and improve the sustainability of industrial development.
For Karachi’s industrial areas, a dedicated recycled-water supply could also provide an alternative source of process water at a time when competition for conventional water supplies remains high between residential, commercial and industrial consumers.
Once both phases are operational, the 100 MGD recycling capacity could represent a significant shift in how the city meets industrial water demand, with wastewater increasingly reused for economic activity while higher-quality freshwater is preserved for residents.
The Karachi Industrial Water Park forms part of broader efforts to improve the city’s long-term water security, promote sustainable urban development and reduce the environmental impact of wastewater disposal.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has sought detailed town-wise records of billions of rupees collected as road cutting charges from utility companies, raising concerns over the continued poor condition of roads excavated for underground infrastructure across Karachi.
The issue was taken up during a PAC meeting chaired by Nisar Khuhro, where committee members questioned local government officials about the amount collected by individual towns and how the funds had been utilised.
Utility companies are required to pay road cutting charges before excavating public roads for the installation, repair or replacement of underground infrastructure, including gas, water and other utility lines. The money is intended to finance the restoration and resurfacing of roads once such work is completed.
The committee was informed that Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) alone had paid approximately Rs11.9 billion in advance to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), town municipal corporations and cantonment boards for road cutting and subsequent restoration work.
Despite the substantial payments, officials told the committee that many roads affected by excavation remained in poor condition and had not been properly repaired by the civic agencies responsible for their maintenance.
The PAC consequently sought a detailed breakdown of the funds received by each town and other relevant civic bodies, along with records showing where and how the money had been spent.
During its examination of audit objections concerning Jinnah Town, the committee was informed by the municipal commissioner that the town had received around Rs 800 million in road-cutting charges.
Officials said tender notices worth approximately Rs 300 million had subsequently been issued for road construction and other development projects.
Khuhro asked officials to provide the committee with a complete list of the schemes being undertaken through these funds. However, local government and town officials were unable to immediately produce comprehensive records detailing the receipts and expenditures.
The lack of complete documentation prompted further scrutiny from the committee, which directed the Sindh Local Government Department to establish an effective mechanism for monitoring development projects undertaken by the city’s towns.
The PAC stressed the need for greater oversight of public funds, particularly money collected specifically for restoring infrastructure damaged during utility work.
PAC Questions Rs 1.9 Million Manhole Cover Purchase
In a separate matter, the committee questioned Jinnah Town officials over a reported expenditure of Rs 1.9 million on manhole covers, which were said to have been purchased at a cost of around Rs 5,000 each.
Officials informed the committee that the covers had been installed in UC-5, UC-7 and UC-8.
Khuhro questioned why open manholes continued to pose a danger to residents, particularly children, despite funds having been spent on purchasing and installing covers.
The PAC subsequently sought detailed records relating to the procurement and installation of the manhole covers.
The committee’s scrutiny has brought renewed attention to the management of road-cutting charges and municipal development funds in Karachi, as it seeks documentation showing whether money collected from utility companies has been used for its intended purpose.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan