Karachi Water Supply: Noor Mohammad Balouch Pump Restored

Karachi water supply has received a major boost after the Noor Mohammad Balouch Pumping Station resumed operations following 35 years of inactivity. Karachi Mayor and Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) Chairman Barrister Murtaza Wahab inaugurated the restored facility on Sunday, describing the project as an important step towards improving access to clean water for residents in several parts of the city.

According to KWSC officials, the rehabilitation of the pumping station is expected to improve water distribution for more than 300,000 residents living in Saddar Town, Lyari Town and surrounding areas of Karachi’s Old City, where communities have experienced water shortages for decades.

The restoration is part of broader efforts by the city’s administration to strengthen Karachi’s aging water infrastructure and improve the reliability of public services.

Noor Mohammad Balouch Pumping Station Returns to Service

The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation, including Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, Chief Operating Officer Asadullah Khan, Chief Engineer Aftab Alam Chandio and other members of the organisation.

With the project now complete, several densely populated neighbourhoods are expected to receive a more stable water supply.

Areas expected to benefit include:

• Ranchore Line
• Kharadar
• Mithadar
• Jodia Bazaar
• Bombay Bazaar
• Bhimpura
• Civil Hospital area
• Saddar Town Union Committees 1, 5, 6 and 7
• Other nearby localities

Officials said the upgraded system is designed to improve both the consistency and availability of water in these communities.

Rehabilitation Completed After Three-Month Restoration Drive

Mayor Murtaza Wahab had visited the pumping station nearly three months earlier after local representatives highlighted the long-standing issue.

Following the visit, he directed KWSC to restore the facility on a priority basis.

The rehabilitation work included several major engineering improvements aimed at making the station fully operational.

According to officials, the project involved:

• Repair and rehabilitation of the station’s civil structure
• Complete overhaul of pumping equipment
• Rewinding of three 125-horsepower electric motors
• Installation of new low-tension electrical cables
• Laying approximately 500 feet of a 12-inch water pipeline
• Installation of a modern electrical control panel
• Securing a permanent electricity connection from K-Electric

Officials stated that the total cost of the rehabilitation project, including payments made to K-Electric, was approximately Rs30.5 million.

Why the Pumping Station Remained Inactive

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Wahab said the Noor Mohammad Balouch Pumping Station was originally established in 1991 during the tenure of former Karachi mayor Dr Farooq Sattar.

However, despite its construction, the facility never became fully functional because it lacked a permanent electricity connection.

As a result, the pumping station remained unused for more than three decades, preventing surrounding communities from receiving the improved water supply originally planned.

Wahab said he personally inspected the site after local community representatives, including Wasim Shirazi, invited him to review the situation.

Following that visit, he instructed KWSC officials to begin restoration work immediately.

Mayor Highlights Importance of Reliable Water Services

Addressing the gathering, Wahab said providing safe drinking water remains one of the primary responsibilities of local government institutions.

He said KWSC is working to modernise Karachi’s water distribution network by upgrading aging infrastructure and introducing long-term solutions to improve public services across the city.

The mayor also said previous administrations had announced plans regarding the pumping station, but the project remained incomplete despite years of public commitments.

In his remarks, Wahab criticised political opponents, claiming that parties which had previously governed Karachi had failed to resolve many of the city’s basic civic issues.

Those comments reflected his political position and were made during the inauguration ceremony.

Additional Water Projects Planned Across Karachi

The Noor Mohammad Balouch Pumping Station is not the only infrastructure project currently planned by KWSC.

Wahab announced that work has already been ordered on the Garden Pumping Station, another major project intended to improve water distribution.

He also said new pumping stations are being developed in:

• Manghopir
• Mominabad

These projects are intended to strengthen Karachi’s water supply network as demand continues to increase across the city.

K-III Project to Supply More Water to Lyari

The mayor also shared updates on the city’s wider water supply programme.

According to Wahab, the K-III water supply line is expected to deliver an additional 10 million gallons per day (MGD) of water to Lyari within the next two months.

If completed as planned, the increase would improve water availability for thousands of residents living in the area.

He further stated that another long-standing water supply issue affecting Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Steel Town has now been resolved.

According to the mayor, approximately 5 million gallons of water are currently being supplied to those communities.

Why the Project Matters

Water shortages have remained one of Karachi’s most persistent civic challenges for many years.

Rapid population growth, aging infrastructure, leakage, and distribution problems have placed significant pressure on the city’s water network.

The reopening of a pumping station that remained inactive for more than three decades represents an important infrastructure upgrade for residents who have experienced unreliable water supplies.

While one project alone will not resolve Karachi’s wider water challenges, officials believe restoring dormant infrastructure and expanding distribution capacity can improve service delivery in several affected neighbourhoods.

Further progress will depend on the successful implementation of additional projects already announced by KWSC, including new pumping stations and ongoing upgrades to the city’s transmission network.

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