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Old Canal restores water flow in Sindh

KARACHI: After the failure of the newly constructed Hub Canal, built at a cost of over Rs12 billion, the Water Corporation has restored the old Hub Canal to address ongoing water shortages in District West and District Central.

The new canal, inaugurated in August 2025 by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, was claimed by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab to ensure a supply of 100 million gallons per day (MGD) from Hub Dam. However, according to a three-month investigation by The Express Tribune, the project remains incomplete, with around 80 per cent of work finished and multiple sections still under construction despite its inauguration.

For the past seven months, Karachi had been receiving only 35–50 MGD through the new canal due to design and construction faults, compared to earlier higher supplies through the old system. A switch back to the repaired old canal last month immediately restored flows to about 100 MGD, as recorded at pumping stations of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC).

The Hub system, originally developed by WAPDA in the 1980s, consists of a 30-kilometre canal network supplying 100 MGD to Karachi and 37 MGD to Balochistan under a long-standing allocation. Of this system, 22 km is currently managed by KW&SC, while 8 km remains under WAPDA’s control.

While the canal historically supplied 100 MGD for decades, leakage and deterioration in recent years reduced output. The recent rehabilitation project worth Rs12.7 billion—launched in 2024—aimed to construct a new canal and repair the old one, with completion originally scheduled for December 2025 but fast-tracked for early inauguration.

Engineers involved in the project say the performance gap between the old and new systems is significant. The original canal, built under WAPDA supervision in the 1980s, was gravity-based and structurally robust, while the new canal suffers from incorrect slope design, weak contracting, and multiple faults at several locations. Some engineers estimate that losses equivalent to 50–70 MGD could be occurring.

WAPDA officials, however, deny leakage in their 8-kilometre section and maintain that the full allocated 100 MGD is being supplied to Karachi.

According to findings reported by The Express Tribune, the switch back to the old canal confirmed that restored infrastructure can again deliver close to 100 MGD, while the new canal has consistently underperformed.

Another KW&SC engineer noted that despite the old system’s age, its engineering quality remained superior due to stronger design standards and experienced supervision during its original construction. He added that poor consultant selection, weak execution, and lack of technical expertise contributed to multiple defects in the new canal, including incorrect gravity levels across much of the 22 km stretch.

Work on the new system is reportedly 80 per cent complete. Remaining tasks include final civil works at the zero-point reservoir, installation of gates, correction of hydraulic levels, and full activation of telemetry systems. Officials expect these steps to take another 6–8 months before full operational stability is achieved. The project manager, Mustafa Mangan, did not respond to requests for comments.

A KW&SC spokesperson said Karachi needs around 1,200 MGD but currently receives about 650 MGD from existing sources: 520 MGD from Dhabeji Pumping Station, 30 MGD from Gharo Pumping Station, and 100 MGD from the Hub system.

He added that the new canal has enabled 100 MGD capacity, and once federal approval for additional allocation is secured, supply from Hub Dam could increase. “After rehabilitation, both old and new canals will operate in parallel, each carrying roughly half the flow until system optimization is completed,” said the official.

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Pakistani Students’ UK Visa Delays Raised by Azam Nazeer Tarar with British High Commissioner

Azam Nazeer Tarar with UK High Commissioner

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner Jane Marriott called on Federal Minister for Law & Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. The meeting discussed Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Federal Minister raised the issue of delays in UK visas for Pakistani students and conveyed the Government of Pakistan’s concern to the British High Commissioner.

Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that hundreds of Pakistani students were facing difficulties due to delays in visa processing, with a risk that the delays could result in the loss of their academic year. He stressed the need to remove obstacles faced by Pakistani students seeking education abroad and facilitate them in this regard.

The Federal Minister briefed the British High Commissioner that, on the directives of the Prime Minister, a committee under his chairmanship was working to improve the legal and institutional framework concerning Pakistani students studying abroad.

He further informed the High Commissioner that, on the Prime Minister’s directives, the committee had finalized its recommendations on the matter, and work was underway to further improve the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students pursuing education abroad.

The Federal Minister said that the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students seeking education abroad was being improved to develop an effective mechanism for addressing the issues faced by students.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott assured the Federal Minister that the issue of delays in visas for Pakistani students would be addressed.

The meeting also discussed further strengthening educational linkages between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, as well as enhancing institutional cooperation and engagement between the two countries.

Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik was also present during the meeting.

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Naqvi Sets September 30 Deadline for Completion of Islamabad Safe City Expansion

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, visited the Islamabad Safe City Headquarters on Friday and chaired a special meeting to review progress on the Safe City Expansion Project, directing officials to complete the ambitious initiative by September 30.

During the briefing, officials informed the minister that overall work on the expansion project has reached 85 percent completion. Installation of the new surveillance network is also 85 percent complete, while 415 kilometres of optical fibre have been laid to support the upgraded system. Work on the data centre, cyber architecture, and cybersecurity infrastructure has also reached approximately 80 percent completion.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of work, Naqvi stressed that the remaining tasks must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

He said the government’s vision is to transform the Islamabad Safe City into a modern, smart, and world-class institution comparable to those in developed countries.

The interior minister said the technologically advanced Safe City system would significantly strengthen public safety through enhanced surveillance, effective monitoring, and rapid emergency response capabilities.

He noted that the project would play a vital role in improving law enforcement efficiency and ensuring better security for residents of the federal capital.

Naqvi also assigned officials the task of completing the state-of-the-art Fusion Centre within the next three months, describing it as a critical component of the upgraded Safe City network.

He further directed the relevant authorities to finalise the Safe City Bill at the earliest and present it before the National Assembly without delay to provide the legal framework necessary for the project’s long-term operation and expansion.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Interior, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), senior Safe City officials, and other relevant officers, who briefed the minister on the progress and future roadmap of the expansion project.

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PM Shehbaz, high-level delegation perform Umrah; pray for country’s progress

MAKKAH AL-MUKARRAMAH: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, along with his high-level delegation, performed Umrah here on Friday.

He was accompanied by his delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi.

The door of Khana Kaaba was opened specially for the prime minister and his delegation.

Following the completion of the Umrah rituals, the prime minister, field marshal, and other members of the Pakistani delegation offered special prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country, the safety and unity of the Muslim Ummah, and for regional and global peace.

The prime minister arrived in Jeddah on Thursday evening for a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Besides meeting with his Saudi counterpart, he will also pay a visit to the Roze-e-Rasool (PBUH) in Madinah.