Karachi residents and industrialists are set to face a new challenge as the Sindh government has issued a notification implementing a metering system for underground water extraction, consumption, and distribution. This move is aimed at addressing the city’s severe water shortage.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, confirmed that the Sindh government has issued a gazette notification for the collection of underground water tax, applicable to Karachi Division and surrounding areas.

The notification covers various sectors, including corporations, commercial uses, water bottling, packaging, and educational institutions that utilize underground water.

The metering system will be implemented for hotels, restaurants, manufacturing, processing, societies, cooperative societies, residential complexes, apartments, flats, and high-rises. However, individual residential houses are excluded from this measure.

During a meeting with the Council of Economic and Energy Journalists, Mayor Wahab revealed that the installation of digital meters in industrial areas to prevent water theft will commence on August 1st.

He highlighted that the CEO of the Trade Development Authority, Zubeir Motiwala, had requested the exemption of industrial areas from the metering system. However, the government has finalized a comprehensive policy for underground water extraction in the commercial sector. The metering system is expected to generate an annual revenue of one billion rupees.

The mayor further disclosed that Karachi receives 550 million gallons of water daily at a cost of 4.5 billion rupees. However, the Water Board only receives 1.5 billion rupees from billing. He also mentioned that 5,500 water tankers operate in the city, with 3,200 registered to curb water theft. An additional 2,300 tankers will be registered soon.