ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to address contamination in Rawal Lake and directed immediate measures to ensure water quality and public health. The session reviewed the current situation and discussed actionable steps to prevent further pollution.
The meeting was attended by key officials including Secretary of Climate Change Aisha Moriani, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Syed Ali Murtaza, Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency, Director General of Rawalpindi Development Authority, and Managing Director of WASA along with senior representatives from federal and provincial departments. Officials presented a detailed briefing on inflow streams and sources of contamination.
Dr Malik was informed that Rawal Lake receives water from three major streams including Korang Lake View and Jinnah streams. Some of these streams are currently contaminated due to untreated sewerage discharged from nearby residential areas. The meeting discussed ongoing plans for the installation of three new sewerage treatment plants at Simli Road Bari Imam and Shadrah to eliminate the sources of pollution and improve water safety.
The minister stressed that access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental right of every citizen. He clarified that although the Ministry of Climate Change does not directly manage water supply or sewerage operations it will provide full support and coordination to relevant authorities to ensure effective implementation of remedial measures.
Dr Malik directed EPA and WASA to carry out comprehensive water quality testing at multiple points along the inflows and outflows of Rawal Lake. He emphasized that accurate and evidence-based data is essential to identify sources and the extent of contamination and to design targeted interventions.
The minister also urged stronger coordination among federal and provincial departments to fast-track the installation of sewerage treatment plants and ensure the delivery of clean drinking water to the public. He warned that protecting water quality is critical for health and sustainability and asked officials to prioritize timely and efficient action to safeguard Rawal Lake.
