To tackle the growing water crisis in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, authorities have approved plans to construct two new dams, Dotara Dam and Shahdara Dam. The projects aim to significantly improve water availability for the rapidly expanding urban population and reduce reliance on limited existing sources.
If implemented as planned, construction of both dams is expected to be completed by December 2027. The decision was taken during a high level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, attended by senior federal and provincial officials, including representatives from Wapda, the Capital Development Authority and the Punjab government.
During the meeting, Wapda presented findings of its initial feasibility study for the Dotara Dam, which will be constructed upstream of Khanpur Dam. The project is designed to supply 72 million gallons per day of water to Islamabad through a gravity based system, making it a cost effective and technically unique initiative. The tentative cost of Dotara Dam is estimated at Rs40 billion, excluding land acquisition.
Authorities directed Wapda to complete a detailed feasibility report within two months to enable early commencement of construction. According to preliminary estimates, the Dotara Dam will be 122 metres high and 350 metres long. Around 40 percent of Khanpur Dam’s catchment area will fall within Dotara’s alignment, while the remaining 57 percent will be its own catchment.
The meeting also approved the construction of the Shahdara Dam, a smaller project to be built on the Shahdara stream in the Margalla Hills. With an estimated cost of Rs4 billion, the dam will have the capacity to supply 10 million gallons of water per day, providing additional relief to Islamabad’s water network.
Participants agreed that both projects should be launched at the earliest to ensure timely completion. Officials also acknowledged Islamabad’s worsening water scarcity, noting that the city currently receives around 70 million gallons per day against a demand exceeding 220 million gallons. The two dams are expected to play a critical role in strengthening long term water security for the twin cities.
