K-IV project cost may exceed Rs70b, SA told.

KARACHI -- The Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply project, better known as K-IV may cost Rs 70 billion upon its completion against its initial cost of Rs 25.55 billion.

This was stated by Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani while furnishing replies during question hour in the provincial assembly. He reminded that initially, the PC-I of the project was approved at cost of Rs 25.551 billion with 50 per cent share of both federal and Sindh governments.

The minister added that later on, the project was awarded to M/s Frontier Works Organization for Rs 28.186 billion and was bifurcated into two packages - Package A and Package B -, adding that the original completion date of both packages were June 2018 and June 2019 respectively; however it suffered delay. 'Till date, considerable work was done on Package A whereas Package B is in design stage,' he added.

Justifying the delay in progress, Ghani said that several essential components were missing in the PC-I which was made ahead of the Pakistan Peoples Party tenure, adding that had K-IV carried out as per...