Amid rapidly growing population in Rawalpindi and Islamabad and the resulting pressure on water resources, the federal government has decided to initiate the Chirah Dam project in the Chirah region of Islamabad.
The move follows directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aimed at ensuring long-term water security for the twin cities. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has submitted a formal proposal to the Punjab Secretary of Housing for project approval.
The Chirah Dam is expected to supply 28 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to the twin cities. The estimated cost of the project is approximately Rs80 billion. In parallel, two other key dam projects — Chahan Dam and Dadhocha Dam — are already under development and are slated for completion in the coming years.
Originally delayed under the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Chirah Dam project is now being fast-tracked following a recent high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister. The meeting focused on addressing the escalating water demand and the gap in current supply. In response, WASA submitted a request to engage consultants for the preparation of the project's PC-I (Planning Commission Form-I).
Official sources say the Punjab Irrigation Department will oversee the construction of Chirah Dam, while WASA Rawalpindi will be responsible for establishing the surface water treatment plant and water distribution network. Upon completion, the dam will supply treated water equally to both cities — 14 MGD each.
Meanwhile, the Chahan Dam Water Supply Project — currently underway with Asian Development Bank loan funding of Rs33.95b — is being executed under the Dream Project. Once operational, it will add 17 MGD to Rawalpindi's water supply.
In addition, the Dadhocha Dam project is under construction by the irrigation department and will provide an extra 35 MGD to Rawalpindi. WASA Rawalpindi will manage the water purification, pipeline network, and rising main installations. For this, it has engaged Usmani & Co as the consulting firm to develop the PC-I documentation.
According to WASA Managing Director Rawalpindi, Muhammad Saleem Ashraf, the combined output from Chirah, Chahan, and Dadhocha dams will result in an additional 80 MGD of water — 14 MGD for Islamabad and 66 MGD for Rawalpindi.
These initiatives, coupled with existing water sources such as Khanpur Dam, Rawal Dam, and various tube wells, are expected to significantly enhance the region's water supply infrastructure and sustainably meet the long-term needs of both cities.
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