A severe water crisis is unfolding in Rawalpindi and Islamabad as water levels in all three major dams Rawal, Simly, and Khanpur continue to drop rapidly amid an extended dry spell and reduced rainfall this year. Officials warn that current reserves may only last 40 to 45 days without significant rainfall.
The falling dam levels are compounded by a sharp decline in the groundwater table, which has dipped below 700 feet in Rawalpindi. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has implemented a Water Control Plan that includes crackdowns on water theft, restrictions on non-essential water usage, and mandated recycling systems at car wash stations.
ALso Read: Islamabad Braces for Intense Water Shortage
With the crisis deepening, demand for private water tankers has surged, while WASA is offering limited free tanker deliveries in severely affected areas. Meanwhile, older tube wells are running dry, and increased reliance on newer wells is straining capacity.
Authorities stress that long-term solutions like dam projects, including the slow-moving Chahan Dam Scheme and the proposed Ghazi Barotha Project, are essential to ensuring sustainable water supply for the region’s future.
