The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are on the brink of a serious water crisis as all three major reservoirs—Rawal, Khanpur, and Simly Dams—report dangerously low water levels due to prolonged drought and a staggering 44% below-average rainfall over the past year.
Soaring temperatures and a lack of rainfall have accelerated the depletion of dam reserves. Rawal Dam currently holds only 1,737 acre-feet of water, just short of its full capacity of 1,752 acre-feet—barely sufficient for two months. Khanpur Dam has dropped to 1,921 acre-feet from a capacity of 1,982, while Simly Dam, serving Islamabad exclusively, holds 2,249 acre-feet out of 2,315. Officials warn that if the region does not receive heavy pre-monsoon rains by June 30, the situation could rapidly deteriorate.
ALso Read: Pakistan’s Usable Water Reserves Witness Significant Decline
In Rawalpindi, daily water supply from Rawal and Khanpur Dams stands at 29 million gallons. However, the falling groundwater levels—now between 750 and 800 feet—have caused many older wells and tube wells to dry up, worsening the supply gap.
Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) spokesperson Umar Farooq attributed the shortfall to the ongoing drought but urged residents not to panic. He said the pre-monsoon season is expected to begin within days, and monsoon rains could help replenish the dams.
While ruling out a full-blown crisis for now, WASA has started water tanker deliveries to areas with supply issues and called on the public to conserve water by limiting non-essential use such as washing cars and watering gardens.
