The city’s long-running water shortage is expected to ease significantly by the end of 2027, as three major supply projects under the Development Resilient Environment and Advanced Municipal Services (DREAMS) program move toward completion.
Backed by the Asian Development Bank with an investment of Rs. 35 billion, the projects are being carried out under the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to bridge the city’s daily gap of nearly 21 million gallons.
Rawalpindi and its adjoining cantonment areas currently need about 72 million gallons of water per day, but existing sources, Rawal Dam, Khanpur Dam, and local tube wells, supply only around 51 million gallons.
One of the key initiatives includes a new pipeline and overhead reservoir connecting Chahan Dam to the city, which is expected to add 12 million gallons daily once operational. Work is also underway to replace the decades-old cement pipeline from Rawal Dam with a steel line, providing an additional 5 million gallons per day.
Meanwhile, upgraded pumping systems at Khanpur Dam are projected to boost supply by another 8 million gallons, raising the total expected increase to 25 million gallons daily.
WASA Managing Director Saleem Ashraf said the authority plans to test a continuous water supply system in three union councils, including Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, for six months before extending it citywide in 2028.
He noted that water levels in all major dams remain healthy, and the upcoming winter rains are expected to further strengthen reserves. Once the ongoing projects and the Daducha Dam are complete, WASA intends to phase out tube wells, which will also help restore the groundwater level.
