The World Bank approved $240 million in financing for the Second Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP-2). The project is aimed at providing safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Karachi.
According to a statement released by the World Bank on Friday, KWSSIP-2 will be co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with $240 million. In addition, there will be a government contribution of $250 million and expected private sector and commercial finance of $269 million.
“Safely managed WASH services are the foundation of public health and quality of life and are central to addressing the stunting crisis in Pakistan,” said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.
“KWSSIP-2 will expand the scope of investments in bulk water augmentation, water treatment, wastewater treatment and reuse, water distribution, and sewer network rehabilitation. About half of all beneficiaries will be women, 58% will be youth (age 15–24), as well as over half a million people in Katchi Abadis (informal settlements).”
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According to the global lender, the project builds on KWSSIP-1 and will finance and expand on several investments to strengthen Karachi’s water supply, sewerage, sanitation, and treatment infrastructure throughout the city.
In addition, it will improve water and wastewater infrastructure and help expand safe drinking water and sanitation services in several Katchi Abadis (informal settlements), which will benefit over half a million people.
World Bank stated that in the long-term, the project would lead to reduced cost of using alternative water sources, reduced time spent collecting water, and health benefits from reducing waterborne diseases.
“KWSSIP-2 will also continue to address the gender gap in employment, representation, and leadership at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) through gender-inclusive recruitment plans to hire more women in technical and decision-making positions,” said Khairy Al-Jamal, Task Team Leader for the project.
“It will support technical training for women, institutionalize an internship program for women graduates and create pathways for them to find employment within the utility, and support promoting women employees to higher-grade positions.”
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The project will provide a safely managed water supply to nearly 16 million people and sanitation services to nearly 7.5 million people in Karachi by 2030. It will also improve the performance and financial sustainability of KWSC and promote private-sector partnerships in the delivery of WASH services.
This project is the first phase of the World Bank’s Pakistan Urban WASH Services Programme that aims to reach 33.5 million people with safely managed WASH services by 2035.
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