Islamabad Faces Severe Water Crisis as CDA Infrastructure Crumbles
ISLAMABAD – The federal capital is on the brink of a major water crisis, as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) grapples with crippling shortages, unpaid dues, and a deteriorating water infrastructure. If urgent action is not taken, residents could face a complete halt in water supply within a month.
According to sources, the CDA’s Water Supply Directorate has only a one-month stock of chlorine—a critical chemical used to purify drinking water. The situation has escalated as contractors have refused to continue chlorination, citing unpaid bills from a tender issued in June last year.
Read More: Is Pakistan Prepared to Tackle Its Escalating Water Crisis?
Without chlorine treatment, the water supply poses serious public health risks, and supply operations may cease altogether by next month if emergency procurement isn’t arranged.
205 Tube Wells Out of Order, Water Tanker Fleet in Disarray
The crisis is compounded by the collapse of CDA’s physical infrastructure. Of the 300 tube wells under CDA’s management, 205 are non-operational, many beyond repair. Furthermore, the authority has defaulted on over Rs. 100 million in payments related to tube well maintenance, severely limiting its ability to restore operations.
The water tanker system is also in shambles, with only 7 out of 32 tankers functional—two of which are reserved exclusively for VIP complaints. CDA has received nearly 1,000 water-related complaints per day, but due to outstanding dues of Rs. 50 million to repair contractors, most tankers remain out of service.
Widespread Shortages Across Islamabad
Residents of key sectors including I-8, I-9, I-10, I-14, F-6, F-7, F-8, F-10, G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11, and localities such as Model Village, Margalla Town, Humak Town, and Rawal Town are already facing severe water shortages. In some areas, water is now supplied only once every three days.
Short-term maintenance contracts have expired, and financial mismanagement has crippled service delivery, raising alarm over the CDA’s ability to manage Islamabad’s basic utilities.
Urgent Intervention Needed
With the risk of waterborne diseases, sanitation breakdowns, and public unrest, the federal government may be forced to step in with emergency funding and oversight. Residents and civic groups are urging authorities to declare a water emergency and take immediate action to avoid a full-blown humanitarian crisis.
