Rawalpindi’s outdated and overstretched sewerage system is set for a major overhaul as the Water and Sanitation Agency announces a comprehensive project to expand sewerage coverage to 28 additional union councils. With the current system serving only 30 per cent of the garrison city, the new initiative aims to address decades of neglect and meet the rising needs of a rapidly growing population. The project is expected to cost more than Rs1 billion and will significantly improve sanitation standards across urban Rawalpindi.
According to Wasa officials, the existing sewerage network was laid nearly 50 years ago and now consists of undersized and deteriorating 150 millimetre pipelines that can no longer manage current sewage loads. At present, only areas such as Satellite Town, Khayaban e Sir Syed, Asghar Mall Scheme and Mugha Singh Estate benefit from the ageing sewerage lines. Most other localities rely on roadside drains where raw sewage flows directly into 11 major nullahs, eventually ending up in Leh Nullah and then the Soan River.
Under the Punjab Development Programme, Wasa will install more than 71,000 running feet of trunk sewers, over 281,000 running feet of lateral sewers and a 7,200 running feet cemented storm water drainage network. The upgraded system will ensure safe and efficient wastewater collection, treatment and disposal while reducing the risk of urban flooding during the monsoon season.
Officials highlight that the project will enhance the city’s resilience to climate change by improving storm water management and reducing contamination of natural water channels. The Punjab government will fund the development work, while Wasa will manage long term operational and maintenance responsibilities through its own revenue.
Union councils 1 to 20 and 33 to 41 will be the first beneficiaries of the expanded network. The project is structured to achieve 40 per cent completion in 2025, another 40 per cent between 2026 and 2027 and full completion by 2028.
Wasa spokesperson Umer Farooq said the project will help meet Sustainable Development Goal targets and deliver reliable sanitation services to more than 750,000 residents. He added that the upgraded sewerage and drainage systems will provide safer, cleaner and more efficient sanitation facilities for the people of Rawalpindi.
