Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a Task Force to ensure provision of clean water to residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, prevent contamination of existing water reservoirs by sewage, and develop a coordinated water supply system from various dams to Islamabad. He ordered the formation of the Task Force while chairing a meeting in Islamabad today to address the issue of water scarcity in the federal capital.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Task Force will be led by Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and will include members from the Capital Development Authority, WAPDA, the Punjab Irrigation Department, and other relevant institutions. The Prime Minister directed the CDA to present a comprehensive plan for recharging underground water reserves using rainwater. He also instructed the establishment of an effective system to prevent pollution in Rawal Dam, caused by sewage from informal settlements near the dam and its tributaries. Additionally, he emphasized the need for a water treatment system to manage sewage generated by illegal and informal housing areas.

Shehbaz Sharif also gave instructions for the establishment of a water supply system at the earliest to deliver the unanimously approved water from Tarbela, Khanpur, and other dams to Islamabad’s households. The meeting was informed that the supply system is already being developed to deliver the unanimously approved water from Rawal, Tarbela, and Khanpur dams to Islamabad. Progress on the construction of multiple dams in surrounding areas was reviewed, along with proposals and strategies for extending the water supply network from these dams to the capital.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the establishment of a proposed Water Board along with its responsibilities. The board will be responsible for managing existing and future water reserves, overseeing household water distribution, coordinating stakeholder access, and implementing relevant measures to ensure sustainable water management. Furthermore, the meeting reviewed initiatives taken by the CDA to mitigate contamination of water sources resulting from sewage discharge from informal settlements within Islamabad.