DREAMS project gets 2027 completion deadline

Upon completion, project will address 21 MGD water shortfall

RAWALPINDI:

Three major water supply projects under the Development Resilient Environment and Advanced Municipal Services (DREAMS) initiative will be completed by December 31, 2027, addressing Rawalpindi's daily shortfall of 21 million gallons.

The Rs35 billion projects, supported by the Asian Development Bank, will be executed under the supervision of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).

Currently, the city and cantonment areas require 72 million gallons of water daily but receive only 51 million gallons from Rawal Dam, Khanpur Dam, and tube wells.

Work is already underway on a supply line and overhead tank project from Chahan Dam in UC Chahan, which will add 12 million gallons per day.

A new small-gauge steel pipeline is being laid from Rawal Dam to replace the damaged 1960 cement line, providing an additional 5 million gallons.

Similarly, modern pumping technology at Khanpur Dam will yield another 8 million gallons, raising total additional supply to 25 million gallons daily.

With this, WASA plans to launch a six-month pilot project to supply 24-hour water to three major union councils, including Khayaban-e-Sir Syed. If successful, citywide round-the-clock water supply will start in 2028.

Managing Director WASA Saleem Ashraf said Rawalpindi will not face a water crisis in 2026 as all dams are currently full, and upcoming winter rains will further improve conditions.

He added that after completion of these projects, the Daducha Dam project will also near completion, allowing the eventual phase-out of tube wells and helping raise the groundwater level.