Karachi’s hopes of receiving an additional 200 million gallons of water from Hub Dam have suffered a setback after the Sindh government’s request for increased supply was rejected.
According to officials, the matter has become complicated due to legal and administrative limitations linked to water allocation from the dam. WAPDA authorities stated that they do not have the authority to independently increase or decrease the water quota supplied from Hub Dam.
Officials explained that any change in water distribution requires consultation and agreement with the government of Balochistan because the dam is jointly linked to both provinces. They said decisions regarding additional allocation cannot be made unilaterally.
WAPDA advised the Sindh government to formally raise the issue with the Ministry of Water Resources and the Council of Common Interests for further discussion and policy-level consideration.
The development comes at a time when Karachi continues to face a serious water shortage. The city’s growing population and rising daily demand have increased pressure on existing water resources. Many areas of Karachi already experience irregular supply and depend heavily on water tankers to meet household needs.
Officials said Hub Dam remains one of the major sources of water supply for Karachi, especially for areas located in the western parts of the city. However, concerns over water availability, provincial sharing arrangements and declining reservoir levels have complicated discussions over increasing supply.
The Sindh government has been seeking additional water to help address the city’s worsening shortage crisis. Authorities believe that increased allocation from Hub Dam could provide temporary relief to several densely populated areas facing severe supply issues.
Despite the request, officials indicated that inter-provincial coordination will be necessary before any final decision can be taken. The matter is now expected to be discussed at higher governmental forums in the coming weeks.
