The World Bank approved $240 million to help finance the Second Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP-2). The project aims to provide cautiously controlled, clean, and hygienic water(WASH) services in Karachi.
According to a statement released by the World Bank on Friday, KWSSIP-2 will be assisted by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which will contribute $240 million.
The government will also contribute $250 million and expected private sector and commercial finance contributions will be almost $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,” stated 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), and over half a million people will be in Katchi Abadis (informal settlements),” he added.
According to the global lender, they built this project on KWSSIP-1. It will finance and expand on several investments to stabilize Karachi’s water supply, sewerage, sanitation, and treatment infrastructure throughout the city.
Moreover, it will boost water and wastewater infrastructures and support the expansion of safe drinking water and sanitation services in several Katchi Abadis (informal settlements), benefiting over half a million people.
The World Bank indicated that the project might reduce the cost of using alternative water sources, the time spent collecting water, and health benefits due to fewer waterborne diseases in the long run.
“KWSSIP-2 will also continue to address the gender gap prevailing in employment, representation, and leadership at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) through gender-inclusive recruitment plans by hiring more women in technical and decision-making positions,” informed 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”, he added.
By 2030, 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 city.
It would also improve KWSC’s performance and financial sustainability and promote private-sector partnerships in delivering WASH services.
This project is the first phase of the World Bank’s Pakistan Urban WASH Services Programme, which aims to reach 33.5 million people with safely managed WASH services by 2035.