WASA awards contracts for water projects

The Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has awarded the contracts for Lot 2 and Lot 3 of its water supply and network improvement project to deal with the growing needs of the garrison city.

The project, with a loan of Rs33.859 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to enhance the water supply infrastructure in Rawalpindi by acquiring additional water and upgrading existing water filtration plants.

A joint venture between Turkish company 5H Ansat and Pakistani firm Qasim Khan & Co. has submitted an offer of Rs20.4 billion for both lots.

According to officials, the joint venture offered Rs8.3 billion for Lot 2 and Rs12.1 billion for Lot 3. The verification process for the performance guarantee has already started. Once this process is completed, the contract will be formally awarded for both lots.

The work under Lot 2 involves the installation of a pipeline from Chahan Dam to Chak Jalal Din, valued at Rs8.3 billion. Lot 3 focuses on laying the distribution network to supply water from Chahan Dam to Rawalpindi citizens, with an estimated cost of Rs12.1 billion. Both contracts are nearing their final stages of approval.

In an earlier phase of the project, WASA awarded a contract worth Rs6.36 billion to China Construction Third Engineering Group Pvt Ltd to supply 12 million gallons of water per day to the Chahan Dam Water Treatment Plant.

Additionally, a contract valued at Rs7.199 billion was awarded to MS Metra Con KBDL 5H Insaat Joint Venture for the upgradation of filtration plants and pumping machinery at Rawal Dam and Khanpur Dam. This contract also includes the restoration of an old water pipeline to ensure 24-hour water availability in areas such as Khayaban-e-Sir Syed.

Both contractors are required to complete the work within three years. Once completed, the four contracts are expected to significantly improve the water supply system in six union councils adjacent to Adiala Road, the Khayaban-e-Sir Syed area, and Rawalpindi city.

The improvements are anticipated to alleviate long-standing water shortages in these areas.

WASA sources revealed that the ADB loan will also cover the restoration of an old water line from Rawal Dam to Rawalpindi city, which, along with the Chahan Dam Water Supply Project, will address the water needs of 46 union councils in the city and the six union councils near Adiala Road. Upon completion of these projects, the agency aims to reduce its reliance on tube wells by 70 per cent, leading to significant savings in electricity costs.