ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) raised in the National Assembly the issue of water scarcity in Karachi. criticised the Sindh government for the inordinate delay in completion of the K-IV project.
“The project was started with an initial estimated cost of Rs26 billion and today it has escalated to Rs126 billion. The whole fault lies with the provincial government,” said MQM-P leader Syed Aminul Haq.
He said the project started in 2010 and it remained on the shelf for the next five years. He said it was a joint project of the federal. provincial governments of Sindh, adding that the province has not done more than 2 per cent of the work on it.
Parliamentary Secretary Moeen Wattoo said the federal government. Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) will complete their part in the project in the current calendar year.
Parliamentary Secretary Wattoo claims federal govt, Wapda will complete their part in K-IV by the end of current year
MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan feared that the project would not be completed even by 2030.
The MQM-P also demanded that the matter be referred to a standing committee of the NA. its meeting be held in Karachi. Moreover, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led provincial government must be bound to attend it.
MQM-P MNA Syed Hafeezuddin said that due to water. power shortage the industry of the country’s industrial hub, Karachi, has come to a halt. Another leader of the party Waseem Ahmed said Hyderabad Electric Power Supply Company should not be privatised as it has shown outstanding performance.
He said the government has opened the gates of corruption in power supply companies by withdrawing the facility of free electricity units availed by employees of the companies. now giving them an electricity allowance.
“Senior officials from grade 17. above will continue to get free electricity as their subordinates will not dare to get readings from the meters installed in the residences of their officials, thus the officials will continue to get free electricity along with electricity allowance,” he added.
MQM-P delegation calls on PM
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met a delegation of the MQM-P led by Federal Minister for Education. party chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and discussed the upcoming federal budget, public welfare projects in Sindh and Karachi, and the overall political situation in the country.
The delegation included MQM-P leaders Farooq Sattar, Aminul Haq and Javed Hanif. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the delegation presented its proposals regarding the forthcoming federal budget to the prime minister. The two sides also held detailed discussions on public welfare. development projects being carried out by the federal government in Sindh, particularly Karachi.
The PM said MQM was an important ally of the federal government. had supported the government’s every initiative aimed at public welfare.
He directed the relevant authorities to examine MQM’s budget proposals and formulate a practical and comprehensive strategy in this regard. The meeting also discussed the prevailing political situation in the country.
Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026
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