Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has declared a drought emergency in Rawalpindi in response to a growing water crisis exacerbated by a persistent drought.
This move comes amid minimal rainfall during the winter season, which has resulted in the depletion of both surface and groundwater reserves in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The situation has been compounded by rapidly increasing population growth, agricultural demands, and expanding commercial activities, which are draining the already-stressed water resources.
Worsening Drought and Declining Water Reserves
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a forecast indicating minimal chances of rainfall in the coming months, with February and March expected to see very little rain. This has worsened an already dire situation where both surface and groundwater reserves have not been replenished for several months. As a result, freshwater resources—already under immense stress due to urban and agricultural demands—are depleting at a rate far exceeding their natural recharge.
WASA’s Managing Director, Muhammad Saleem Ashraf, emphasized that Rawalpindi requires 68 million gallons of water daily, but only 51 million gallons are available from existing resources, including the Rawal and Khanpur dams and over 490 tube wells. “Due to the absence of rain over the past three months, the water supply is critically low, and we are facing severe difficulties in providing water to the city,” Ashraf said.
Population Growth and Commercial Activity Straining Resources
Mr. Ashraf highlighted that the rapidly growing population and rising commercial activity have significantly increased the demand for water. In response to these challenges, WASA has launched a public awareness campaign to encourage judicious water use. The agency is also implementing strict penalties to prevent wasteful practices, including fines for those caught washing cars or allowing water to leak from their homes.
“WASA Rawalpindi is facing severe difficulties in provision of water and in view of this situation, it has been decided to impose a drought emergency in Rawalpindi so that the people use water judiciously,” Ashraf said. This water crisis is due to a combination of factors—drought, population growth, and commercial activity—putting enormous pressure on our water resources.
Urgent call for Water Conservation
To address the current water shortage, WASA has also called for commercial establishments such as service stations, hotels, and restaurants to install water recycling systems by February 28. Service stations and other commercial units are being reminded that wasting clean water is no longer an option, and they will face fines for non-compliance.
The Punjab Environmental Department has already imposed a ban on car washing with water pipes at homes and announced fines of Rs10,000 for violators. Furthermore, all illegal service stations operating without water recycling systems are required to shut down, and a fine of Rs100,000 will be levied on those failing to comply with new regulations.
Public Cooperation is Crucial for Water Conservation
WASA officials are urging Rawalpindi’s residents to cooperate by following the agency’s water conservation guidelines. “WASA will impose fines on consumers who waste water, particularly for activities like washing cars and allowing water to leak from pipelines,” Ashraf warned. “We also encourage citizens to report any illegal water wastage.”
As the city navigates this ongoing crisis, WASA remains committed to providing essential water and sanitation services, but the cooperation of the public is crucial. Experts have stressed that long-term solutions—such as strengthening water management policies and reducing reliance on external funding—are essential to mitigating future water crises and ensuring sustainable water resources for the coming generations.
Rapid Groundwater Depletion and the Need for Reform
The situation has also been worsened by the depletion of underground water reserves. In the 1990s, the groundwater level in Rawalpindi was at 100 feet, but it has now dropped to a concerning 700 feet. The scarcity of underground water has placed even more pressure on the already strained surface water supply, making it more difficult to balance the city’s water needs.
In addition to the immediate measures being taken by WASA, experts are calling for broader, long-term reforms to address Pakistan’s water crisis. Pakistan’s freshwater resources have been depleting at an alarming rate, primarily due to mismanagement, climate change, and the over-exploitation of water for agricultural and urban needs. Urgent reforms are needed to ensure sustainable water use, including strengthening governance mechanisms, enforcing stringent conservation policies, and investing in advanced water management technologies.
“There is an urgent need to invest in sustainable urban planning and promote public awareness campaigns about the importance of water conservation,” according to environmental experts. Additionally, investing in domestic human capital—through capacity-building programs, research initiatives, and incentivizing local innovation—will ensure that Pakistan can develop self-sufficient and resilient water management strategies.
Further exacerbating the water crisis, the water supply from Khanpur Dam to Rawalpindi and Islamabad will be reduced from 28.6 million gallons per day (MGD) to just 10 MGD from February 9 to February 22 due to annual maintenance and dredging of the dam’s left bank canal. This reduction in supply highlights the vulnerability of Rawalpindi’s water infrastructure and the challenges faced by authorities in meeting the city’s needs.
