Syed Salahuddin

Mr. Salahuddin has been serving as the Managing Director/CEO of Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) since September 2022. He is the first CEO following the corporatization of KW&SC. Before assuming this position, Mr. Salahuddin also served as Project Director of the World Bank-funded (USD 1.6 billion) Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project, the largest ever undertaking by the Government of Sindh in the water and sewerage services sector.

With over 24 years of multi-sectoral experience, Mr. Salahuddin has proven himself as a reformist and a leader of meaningful reforms in the water industry of Pakistan. His core areas of expertise include infrastructure development, personnel administration, building and development control, municipal services, funds management, and local governance public policy. He has a track record of evaluating road maps and implementing innovative initiatives, always taking bold steps to drive progress.

Mr. Salahuddin also holds an honor of leading the most coveted field assignment of Sindh Province as Deputy Commissioner, District South, Karachi during the year 2018/19. He coined the concept of community-led solid waste management by introducing a “Blue Jacket Campaign” in District South. By virtue of this, many slums were cleaned on self-help basis through a volunteer corps raised from the locals.

Mr. Salahuddin is the author of two research papers: "Water and Sanitation Improvement Strategies in Pakistan" (2014) and "Growing Dangerous Buildings in Karachi: Challenges and Way Forward" (2020). He has been appointed as a member of the Steering Committee for the 300 Global Water Leaders Group, further solidifying his reputation as a leader in the field.

A firm believer in modern technological advancements, Mr. Salahuddin took on the remarkable challenge of successfully digitizing the entire legal hydrant operations. Under his leadership, KW&SC has benefited from spirited reform managers and innovative strategies to ensure water security for Karachi. He led the operation against the notorious nexus of water and tanker mafia in Karachi, digitized the entire service operations, and developed a hydrant management center. In addition, he has undergone training in Water Secure Cities at the Tokyo Development and Learning Center in Japan and Water Smart Cities at the Singapore Water Center, further enhancing his capabilities in addressing water security challenges.