Minister informs NA: Work on new dams in Capital to be completed in 4 years to address water shortages

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Tuesday said two new dams would be completed within the next four years to address Islamabad’s growing water shortage, while old water supply pipelines across the capital would also be replaced.

Responding to a calling-attention notice, speaking in the National Assembly during a calling-attention notice moved by Tamkeen Akhtar Niazi and other lawmakers regarding the increasing water shortage in Islamabad and the need to install plants for treating and recycling water, the minister said that the capital currently required around 240 million gallons of water per day, while only 80 million gallons were available.

He said that feasibility studies were being conducted through the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for the construction of Shadra Dam and Dothara Dam. He said the projects were expected to be completed within three to four years and would meet Islamabad’s water requirements for the next 30 to 40 years.

Talal Chaudhry said the government had amended relevant laws as the groundwater level was gradually declining. Rainwater wells were now being made mandatory, and building plans were not approved without provisions for rainwater harvesting, he added.

The minister said that old water supply pipelines in all sectors of Islamabad would be replaced within one-and-a-half years, adding that a PC-I for the project had already been prepared.

He urged Parliamentarians to cooperate with the authorities in improving water bill recovery and payment. He said the current recovery rate was only 10 percent. He also called for greater conservation of water, pointing out that water was frequently wasted while washing vehicles at homes.

He said whenever a development scheme was approved, its standard operating procedures included provisions for rainwater harvesting.

The minister also expressed concern over unplanned settlements and illegal construction in parts of Islamabad. He said a large portion of the area along Lehtrar Road was illegal and its sewage was contaminating the water system.

A sewage treatment plant costing between Rs30 billion and Rs40 billion was being established in the area, he said, adding that another sewage treatment plant was also being installed in Islamabad’s I-9 sector.

Later, Federal Minister for Water Resources Moin Wattoo said that all rivers in the country were flowing normally and there was currently no threat of flooding.

Speaking in the National Assembly in response to a point of order raised by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmaker Syed Hussain Tariq, the minister said people, particularly farmers and communities living in flood-prone areas, remained concerned about rising water levels and needed timely information and awareness.

Syed Hussain Tariq said Pakistan had faced floods over the past several decades due to increased water flows in the Indus and other rivers, causing significant damage in Punjab and Sindh. He also alleged that India sometimes used water as a weapon and called on the minister to brief the House on the situation.

Responding to the concerns, Moin Wattoo said all rivers were currently flowing at normal levels, and there was no flood situation in the country.

He added that water levels at Tarbela Dam were also within normal capacity, with around 550 feet of water storage, and there was no immediate threat of flooding.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026