Karachi to Dig Up 96 km of Roads for K-IV Water Pipelines From January 2027

About 96 km of Karachi roads, across more than 20 main roads, are to be dug up from January 2027 to lay K-IV augmentation pipelines, according to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP). The work is planned to take 22 months and cost about Rs 72 billion. No traffic diversion plan has been published yet.

Anyone who drives University Road knows what one dug-up stretch does to a commute. Now multiply it across the city. The pipelines are meant to carry new water from the K-IV scheme into neighbourhoods that get little or none today. KWSSIP's project manager, Faisal Javed, set out the plan at a media briefing reported on 10 October 2026, the first such briefing in three years. Here is what was said, what is confirmed, and what Karachi residents should watch for.

Karachi will dig about 96 km of roads for K-IV pipelines from January 2027

KWSSIP says the K-IV augmentation works will excavate about 96 km of roads to lay distribution pipelines. Work is expected to start in January 2027 and run for 22 months. The estimated cost is Rs 72 billion, and officials said it could rise. Tendering is under way.

"Augmentation" here means the city-side network. The K-IV scheme brings bulk water from Keenjhar Lake to the edge of Karachi. Without new pipelines inside the city, that water has nowhere to go. These lines link the bulk supply to the areas that need it most.

Excavation will move in 1 to 3 km stretches, not all at once

Faisal Javed said the work will be done in phases, opening one to three kilometres at a time rather than the whole city together. The project team will also be responsible for restoring the roads once the pipes are in. A strategy to keep traffic moving is being prepared.

That last point is the weak one. The roads have not been named, and the alternative routes have not been finalised. Reporters at the briefing pointed out that a 2.7 km stretch between Hasan Square and NIPA had taken a year. KWSSIP maintained that the 22-month deadline will be met.

The lines will also cross gas and power cables. Officials said a payment formula has been agreed for moving installations owned by Sui Southern Gas Company and K-Electric, which is often where Karachi roadworks stall.

K-IV is meant to add water for areas that get little or none

K-IV is the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme. WAPDA, which has run it since the federal government handed it over in 2020, describes a 121 km system drawing water from Keenjhar Lake in Thatta district. KWSC lists Phase I as adding 260 million gallons a day (MGD) to the city system.

At the briefing, the augmentation lines were linked to about 250 MGD of extra supply. The two figures are close but not the same, and we have not seen an official document that explains the gap. Either way, the new water is intended for areas facing severe shortages, many of which now rely on bought tankers.

KWSSIP says its first phase is finished

KWSSIP was set up by the Sindh government about three years ago to run water and sewerage projects financed by international lenders. Javed said three first-phase components are complete at a cost of $100 million:

1. Work on pipeline No 5 at the Dhabeji pumping station, including a 5.5 km replacement that cost Rs 2.5 billion.
2. Improvements at the Pipri pumping station.
3. Protection of pipelines along the Lyari River.

He said the organisation has $1.4 billion earmarked for water and sewerage improvements, to be completed over four and a half years.

What Karachi residents can do now

Until the pipes are laid and K-IV water flows, nothing changes at the tap. If your area is short of water today, the official route is to book a KWSC water tanker through the KWSC app rather than paying a private hydrant price.

Keep your KWSC water bill and consumer number handy. When new lines reach a neighbourhood, connection and billing questions go through that account. Complaints about water, sewerage and hydrants go to KWSC on 1334.

Watch for the list of roads. Once KWSSIP or the traffic police publish it, we will add it here with the diversions.

Common questions

Which Karachi roads will be dug up for K-IV?

More than 20 main roads, about 96 km in total, but the list has not been published. KWSSIP said alternative routes are still being worked out.

When will the K-IV road works start in Karachi?

January 2027 is the expected start, with work planned to last 22 months. Tendering was under way as of October 2026.

How much will the K-IV augmentation project cost?

About Rs 72 billion, according to KWSSIP's project manager, who said the cost could rise.

How much water will K-IV add to Karachi?

KWSC lists Phase I as 260 MGD. The briefing linked the augmentation lines to about 250 MGD of extra supply.

Who is paying for the K-IV pipelines?

Two international financial institutions, with the Sindh government paying 20 per cent, according to KWSSIP.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 10 October 2026. The 96 km length, the more than 20 roads, the January 2027 start, the 22 months, the Rs 72 billion cost, the funding split, the 250 MGD figure and the first-phase details were stated by KWSSIP project manager Faisal Javed at a media briefing reported on 10 October 2026; we could not find a written KWSSIP statement. The K-IV length, source and handover come from WAPDA's K-IV project page, and the 260 MGD Phase I figure from the KWSC website, both opened on 10 October 2026.