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.