Karachi Faces 54 MGD Water Shortage After Pumping Station Power Cut
Karachi is facing a severe shortfall of 54 million gallons per day (MGD) of water after electricity supply to the NEK Pumping Station was suspended, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) confirmed on Sunday. The suspension has crippled a critical node in the city's water distribution network, directly affecting supply across multiple residential and commercial zones in Pakistan's largest city.
The NEK Pumping Station serves as a major conduit for water transfer to large portions of Karachi's urban core. Officials at KWSC attributed the disruption to the disconnection of power by the relevant electricity distribution utility, though the reasons for the disconnection were not immediately detailed in official communications.
The 54 MGD shortfall represents a significant proportion of Karachi's daily water supply, a city of approximately 20 million people that already grapples with chronic water deficits. Civic authorities have warned that prolonged disruption could lead to acute shortages in affected neighbourhoods and compound sanitation risks.
KWSC officials have urged the relevant authorities to restore electricity supply to the pumping station as a matter of urgency. The incident again highlights the structural vulnerability of Karachi's water infrastructure to power disruptions, a recurring challenge that has drawn persistent criticism from civic groups and urban planners.
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