"Karachi water crisis worsens as power cut halts main pumping station"

Karachi Faces Severe Water Crisis as Power Outage Hits Major Pumping Station

Karachi, Pakistan — July 1:

Residents of Karachi continue to battle a deepening water crisis, as power supply to a key facility at the Dhabeji pumping station remains disrupted for the third consecutive day. The prolonged outage has crippled water distribution in the city, worsening an already dire situation.

According to Dawn, the breakdown has led to a staggering shortfall of over 350 million gallons per day (MGD). Karachi, which typically receives around 650 MGD against a daily demand of 1,250 MGD, is now struggling even more as water taps run dry across numerous neighborhoods.

A spokesperson for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) confirmed that two feeders at the K-III Pumping House in the Dhabeji complex have remained non-functional for over 96 hours. These feeders were responsible for delivering around 70 MGD to the city — a supply that has now completely halted. Meanwhile, the K-II Pumping House continues to operate, providing the same volume of water.

K-Electric, the city’s electricity provider, stated that a fault in the underground cables, compounded by stagnant rainwater, is the cause of the prolonged outage. The utility company said restoration efforts are delayed due to safety concerns but assured that power will be restored as soon as the water is cleared.

The latest disruption has shed renewed light on Karachi’s chronic water woes. Years of ageing infrastructure, leaking pipelines, and lack of investment in water projects have left the metropolis vulnerable. Additionally, the presence of a "water mafia" — unauthorized groups that siphon off water from hydrants and pipelines and sell it at inflated prices — continues to exacerbate the issue. These illegal operations are often believed to have links with corrupt officials.

In many parts of the city, residents go without piped water for days, relying instead on expensive private water tankers. The problem is intensified by rapid urban population growth, climate change, and the absence of sustainable water management strategies.

Public frustration is growing as citizens demand urgent government action to not only restore water supply but to also address the structural causes of Karachi’s water scarcity. Long-term reforms and significant investment in infrastructure and alternative water sources are now seen as critical to averting future crises.