The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has announced that citizens and industries in Karachi must now pay for using groundwater, just like they do for electricity.
A recent gazette notification has made it mandatory to meter water usage, covering the Karachi Division and nearby areas. The city government will monitor and regulate the extraction, use, and sale of groundwater.
The new rules apply to corporations, commercial establishments, hotels, schools, residential complexes, apartments, flats, and high-rise buildings. Only individual residential houses are exempt from this regulation, allowing them to use groundwater without charge.
Starting August 1, the installation of digital water meters will begin as part of these new measures. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab emphasized that industrial areas should refrain from installing water meters.