Dr. Tariq Fazal’s press conference on water issue

Plan chalked out to end water shortage in Islamabad

Islamabad: Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that a comprehensive plan has been chalked to put an end to water shortage in the federal capital.

Addressing a joint press conference here at the CDA Headquarters with the Islamabad Mayor and CDA Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz, the minister said under the plan, the federal capital would be provided water supply from different reservoirs.

Dr. Tariq Fazal said presently, the Islamabad city is facing a shortage of 12 Million Gallons per Day (12 MGD) of water from the Simly Dam and Khanpur Dam. It may be pointed out here that the Municipal Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) and CDA nowadays are facing severe criticism from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) for their failure to meet the water shortage in Islamabad. The leaders of opposition also feel that the problem of water supply would worsen during the coming summer season.

The residents feel that the opposition parties have rightly taken up issue of water shortage in the federal capital as during the last four years, the government had taken no concrete measures to address the issue.

Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told ‘The News’ that all the provinces have agreed to give their share of water to Islamabad from Ghazi Brotha (Indus River) from where 200 MGD of water would be supplied to the federal capital.  

The work on the mega project has been pending for the last 10 years. It would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs100 billion with the assistance of the World Bank. Giving details of the current water situation, the minister said that currently 53 MGD of water is being supplied to Islamabad against the requirement of 70 MGD of water.

He said that besides other resources, a total of 192 tube-wells are established in various sectors of Islamabad whereas financial grant for repair of 62 tubewells has already been released. The minister came harsh on the government’s political opponents saying they should not misguide the masses on this sensitive issue.

To a question, he dispelled an impression that he was creating hurdles in way of development and welfare projects in Islamabad in order to fail the MCI. To a question, he said only on Wednesday, a grant of Rs50 million has been released for repair of 62 tubewells.