ISLAMABAD: Following formal approval by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, authorities have initiated preconstruction activities for two major dam projects aimed at addressing the escalating water shortage in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Capital Development Authority has been directed to move swiftly to ensure long term water security for the twin cities.
The CDA plans to construct Shahdara Dam exclusively for Islamabad and Dotara Dam as a joint water supply project for both Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Chairing a high level meeting, CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa termed both projects critical for permanently resolving water scarcity. He directed that construction timelines be prioritised and closely monitored.
During the briefing, officials informed the chairman that the feasibility study for Shahdara Dam has been completed and the site in the Margalla Hills has been declared highly suitable. Consultant NesPak has started work on the detailed design, while teams from Wapda and NesPak will jointly review geotechnical and hydrological assessments at the site.
Shahdara Dam will be built on the Shahdara stream and is expected to supply 10 million gallons of water per day to Islamabad. The project is estimated to cost around Rs4 billion and will be financed through CDA funds. Officials said construction could begin within three months and the dam may be completed within one year.
The meeting also reviewed progress on Dotara Dam, which will be constructed upstream of Khanpur Dam and will have a capacity of 72 million gallons per day. The project is estimated to cost approximately Rs40 billion excluding land acquisition. Due to its scale, funding will be sought from the federal and Punjab governments, as it will serve residents of both cities.
Participants from CDA, Wapda, RDA, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and Punjab Small Dams stressed the need for coordination to meet deadlines. Chairman Randhawa directed that feasibility work for Dotara Dam be completed at the earliest and emphasised strict adherence to timelines to ensure uninterrupted water supply for the growing population.
