KARACHI: The water-starved people of the metropolis, particularly in districts Keamari and West, will get some respite from the water shortage next month after the operationalisation of the new Hub Canal.

The new canal, a significant initiative of the provincial government aimed at addressing the water woes of the city, will add 100 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to the supply. The old Hub Canal, being rehabilitated alongside the construction of the new canal, brings150 MGD to the city.

In a tweet, Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation was all set to operationalise the new 100 MGD Hub Canal on Aug 14.

He said that the work, being carried out at a cost of Rs12.8 billion funded by the provincial government, would be completed in a record time of only nine months.

`The existing canal is also being rehabilitated under this project,` he added.

A spokesman for the water utility said that the new canal would significantly improve Karachi`s watersupply, addressing the city`s ongoing water crisis, especially in parts of districts Keamari and West.

He said that the Hub Canal project was a vital step towards resolving the city`s water issues, and its completion would bring relief to the city`s residents.

The Hub Canal project, approved in 2022, included the construction of a new canal and rehabilitation of the old Hub Canal to further increase water supply in the two districts. The project included upgrading the Hub pumping station, rising main, and Hub Filter Plant from 80 MGD to 100 MGD.