Several Karachi Areas Face Water Supply Disruption After Power Failure at Dhabeji

A major power failure at Karachi's Dhabeji pumping station caused 10 of its 21 pumps to stop operating on Sunday, potentially disrupting water supply across the city. The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) reported the outage occurred around 6 am when electricity to different phases of the pumping station was suspended.

K-Electric confirmed a cable fault in its system was responsible for the outage. The KWSC stated that the affected pumps were those in Dhabeji's third phase, fourth phase, and the K-III pump house. The station, a key water supplier for Karachi, depends heavily on a consistent electricity source; brief power failures can immediately disrupt water distribution.

KWSC officials are in constant communication with K-Electric officials to expedite the restoration of power. Once power is restored, all affected pumps are expected to resume operation promptly. The cause of the cable damage is believed to be a fire near the pumping station, sparked by a bush fire. K-Electric stated a technical team was on-site to address the issue.

This disruption follows a recent 7.05% increase in KWSC water and sewerage charges, approved by the Sindh government. The higher tariffs, effective from July 1, 2026, are intended to boost service delivery and ensure the long-term financial stability of Karachi's water and sewerage operations. The tariff hike comes amid ongoing water shortages, aging sewerage infrastructure, and the maintenance of deteriorating civic systems in Karachi.