This case study describes the formation of Karachi Water Partnership as a platform for collective action by all concerned stakeholders to better manage water resources in Karachi. Case involved communication with stakeholders and changing behaviour patterns.
The current population in Karachi is estimated to be about 18 million people and this is predicted to rise to almost double in another decade or so.
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board is the single largest utility that is solely responsible for both municipal water supply and the management of wastewater and sewerage in the city district.
The problem of mismanagement of water and failing water services rendered by the public utilities is compounded by the wasteful and injudicious use of water by consumers. Failure to supply proper water and sanitation services leads to an obvious shortage; however this situation is worsened due to the wasteful consumption patterns on the part of the users.
Action taken
A water partnership for the city of Karachi to promote Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) processes. Karachi Water Partnership (KWP) was launched as an initiative of the Hisaar Foundation, a foundation working towards water, food and livelihood security issues with a vision of balancing environment with development through innovation and a mission of promoting creative, low-cost solutions and policies for conservation in Pakistan.
The KWP evolved as a multi-stakeholder platform, which provided space for discussion, arguments, consensus and agreed action on the part of the stakeholder groups in the city.
During 2007-2013, KWP successfully brought in a wide range of partners (government, private sector, civil society, elected representatives, media, academia, water professionals, women and individuals), signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with city-based institutions, held several conferences, training workshops, thematic dialogues. It also developed and circulated water conservation and management guidelines for homes, offices, schools, industries and mosques.
KWP has also provided twenty government schools with clean drinking water and toilets, and three more clusters of schools are currently undergoing interventions. Water conservation training and orientation programs for teachers and students are well established.
Lessons learnt
The Karachi Water Partnership experience has shown that that through active involvement of all stakeholders, the shortcomings of established services can be overcome by simply improving the existing delivery mechanisms and suggesting ways in which these existing services can be made more efficient, equitable and sustainable.
An innovative models of “cost-synergy” and the “mutual accountability” were established to encourage stakeholders to engage in dialogue with each other and move forward together, rather than against each other and cohesively develop committed action plans and take responsibility for their behavior towards the resource as part of their obligations and duties.