Decades of political finger-pointing have left Karachi, a city of 35 million people, struggling with a water crisis that worsens with each passing year. The latest plea comes from the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), which has written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanding urgent action on the long-delayed K-IV water supply project, a scheme first conceived more than two decades ago. Main Developments JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar sent a letter to the prime minister highlighting a report presented before a National Assembly committee. That report revealed that the first phase of K-IV, expected to supply 260 million gallons of water per day (MGD), is now slated for completion in December 2029 — years behind its original timeline. Read also: FGEHA Adjusts Plot Quotas After Judges Get Excess Allotments Zafar urged the federal government to release all remaining funds for the project within the current fiscal year. He also called on the Sindh government to prioritize the K-IV augmentation component, noting that the city's daily water requirement of 1,200 MGD stands in stark contrast to the current supply of just 550 MGD — less than half the needed amount. The letter criticized the federal budget allocation of only Rs8 billion for K-IV in the current fiscal year, against a requirement of Rs40 billion. In the previous budget, the allocation was a mere Rs3.2 billion, which Zafar described as evidence of a lack of seriousness from both the federal and provincial governments. Background The last major water supply project completed for Karachi was K-III, finished during the tenure of former city nazim Naimatullah Khan. The PC-II for K-IV was also prepared during that same period to address the city's future water needs, but more than 21 years later, the project remains incomplete. Blame has been traded between the Sindh government and the federal government. The Sindh government points to federal delays, while parties at the centre hold the province responsible. Zafar argued that Karachi residents can see clearly that both administrations have failed to ensure timely completion. According to the JI leader, the Sindh government could not complete the K-IV augmentation project despite assistance from the World Bank. Meanwhile, the federal government has allocated only a fraction of the required funds year after year. Why It Matters Karachi contributes over 50 percent of Pakistan's revenue, yet more than half its population lacks access to adequate water. Zafar called this situation deeply unfortunate, pointing out that residents are forced to spend billions of rupees annually on private water tankers to meet their basic needs. Had K-IV been completed on time, the hundreds of billions of rupees paid to the tanker business over the past two decades could have been spent on education, healthcare, and food instead. The chronic water shortage not only affects daily life but also hampers economic productivity in the country's largest city. What's Next The JI letter places the onus on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to release Rs40 billion within the current fiscal year. Without a significant increase in funding, the December 2029 completion date for K-IV's first phase appears uncertain. Whether the federal government will respond with a revised allocation or continue the pattern of meagre budgeting remains an open question. Karachi's 35 million residents, meanwhile, continue to wait for a solution that has been promised for over two decades.