Another serious water shortage issue covers even drinking water shortages for Karachi (and soon for Gwadar as demands grow). Karachi needs alternative water source for 20 million plus inhabitants and present Indus river source is too precarious! We need affordable seawater desalination plants for at least critical requirement and it is unfortunate that we do not have even one desal plant providing drinking water quality at affordable price.

Karachi did have an opportunity to introduce this source of clean water at affordable price but total failure of Karachi's Defence Cogen and Desal plant killed the option! It is nearly a decade that the proposed plant, designed by us to provide economical power and drinking water, was "scuttled" due to a German co's greed and failure of the sponsors to act. Unfortunately, no attempt was made to ensure completion of this project which would have shown ways to operate efficient power and desal plants so that all power plants in and around Karachi could follow this design to provide affordable power and quality drinking water, thus meeting essential needs of the city.

We have an opportunity at this time but will we get fair share of resources for Karachi? Major power plants are coming all around Karachi, giving us nothing but pollution on a massive scale. Can these power plants give Karachi the due facilities in the shape of added desalination plants which can easily be appended to steam power plants? If we care for Karachi, and soon include Gwadar, we must have economical desalination plants added now!

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017