RAWALPINDI: The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has launched a PKR 43 million feasibility study to bring 35 million gallons per day (MGD) of water from Daducha Dam to Rawalpindi, officials announced. The study, expected to be completed within two months, will include surveys, technical designs, land acquisition, and environmental and social assessments.
WASA Managing Director Saleem Ashraf said a consultant has been engaged to prepare the PC-I for the project, which also involves setting up a filtration plant at the dam site. The initiative aims to reduce Rawalpindi’s reliance on groundwater and aging reservoirs, such as the 56-year-old Rawal Dam, while securing a long-term water supply for the city.
Currently, Rawalpindi draws 23 MGD from Rawal Dam, 6 MGD from Khanpur Dam, and 35 MGD from 480 tube wells, with over 60 percent of the city’s water coming from groundwater—a source now considered unsustainable.
Officials highlighted that the Daducha Dam project will not only provide a consistent water supply but also help recharge groundwater, reduce contamination risks, and lower pumping costs. The project is expected to meet the needs of the growing population and improve access to reliable drinking water for low-income communities.