Cash-strapped WASA issues final notices

Crisis-stricken Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has announced plans to cut off water supply and sewerage services to major defaulting institutions in an effort to recover outstanding arrears.

The agency is grappling with a financial crisis fuelled by a staggering Rs1 billion owed to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Rs240 million from two court-ordered decrees.

In the face of these challenges, WASA has achieved a record-breaking revenue recovery, surpassing its targets for the fiscal year 2023/24.

The agency recovered Rs1.72 billion against a target of Rs1.57 billion—exceeding the goal by Rs147.42 million.

For the current financial year 2024/25, WASA has already collected Rs985.67 million as of November, with seven months still remaining. Revenue recovery for November alone stood at Rs215 million.

WASA officials are optimistic about exceeding this year's target of Rs2,371 million, aiming to recover Rs2,500 million by the end of the fiscal year.

To address the financial shortfall, WASA has decided to take stringent action against major government defaulters.

Institutions such as the WAPDA SDO office (owing Rs0.93m), Rawalpindi Arts Council (Rs0.1m), police stations (Rs0.6m), hospitals (Rs2.32m), Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (Rs11.68m), and the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Rs4.45m) have been issued final warnings to clear their arrears.

In light of the record-breaking recoveries, WASA Managing Director Mohammad Saleem Ashraf announced honorariums for key revenue team members, including Director Revenue Tahir Bashir, Deputy Directors Rana Shams and Akmal Yasin Bhatti, and Inspectors Revenue Asad Jabbar Qureshi and Adnan Safdar.

The agency officials have been ordered to stay committed to overcoming its financial hurdles and ensuring uninterrupted services for compliant consumers while holding defaulters accountable.