Karachi Sewage: The federal and provincial governments launched the S-3 sewage treatment project in 2007 to address Karachi’s sewage issue by treating wastewater before releasing it into the sea.
. The initiative includes four treatment plants—TP-I, TP-II, TP-III, and TP-IV—designed to safeguard the coastal environment.
Construction on the S-3 project began in 2014, seven years after its inception, with an initial two-year completion timeline. However, nearly a decade later, only 7.6% of the sewage being dumped into the ocean is treated by the project.
Though the pipeline installation in the Lyari river is nearing completion, key plants—TP-I, designed to treat 100 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage, and TP-III, aimed at 180 MGD—remain non-operational.
Karachi Sewage: Challenges and Delays in S-3 Treatment Project
An official from Karachi Water and Sewage Corporation (KWSC) confirmed that while TP-III began treating 54 MGD of sewage in 2018, it now processes only 35 MGD. The project originally aimed to treat 460 MGD of sewage.
Delays have stemmed from several issues, including the exclusion of TP-II due to nearby land development. A dispute over funding between the federal and provincial governments, compounded by the pandemic, further stalled the project for four years.
Initially planned for equal funding, the federal government withdrew, leaving the Sindh government to cover the entire cost. The project has so far consumed Rs 15 billion, with Rs 3 billion allocated for this year.
With rising costs, the project’s budget increased to Rs 36 billion. The provincial government is covering the extra expenses, and the final cost is now set at Rs 29 billion. TP-III and the pipeline are still under construction, with completion expected by June 2026.