In a major step to address the growing water shortage in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the government has approved the construction of two new dams, Dotara and Shahdara- which are expected to be completed by December 2027.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi and attended by senior federal and provincial officials, including representatives of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Wapda and the Punjab government. The meeting agreed to treat both projects as priority schemes and directed authorities to fast-track approvals, funding and feasibility work.
According to officials, the larger of the two projects, the Dotara Dam, will be built upstream of Khanpur Dam. It is expected to supply around 72 million gallons of water per day to the federal capital. Preliminary estimates suggest the dam will be approximately 122 metres high and 350 metres long, with a projected cost of about Rs40 billion, excluding land acquisition.
Wapda has been asked to complete a detailed feasibility study within two months so that construction can begin without delay. Officials said the project would be particularly beneficial for Islamabad as water can be delivered through gravity, reducing long-term pumping and operational costs.
The second project, Shahdara Dam, will be a smaller facility built on the Shahdara stream in the Margalla Hills. It is expected to provide around 10 million gallons per day and cost roughly Rs. 4 billion.
Authorities stressed that both dams are short-term solutions that can be completed within two years and will help bridge the widening gap between water supply and demand in the twin cities. While work will continue on larger long-term projects such as the Ghazi Brotha, Indus River water supply scheme, officials agreed that immediate focus must remain on projects that can deliver results quickly.
Currently, Islamabad receives about 70 million gallons per day from Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam and groundwater sources, while the city’s estimated requirement is more than three times that amount. Rural areas around the capital remain heavily dependent on small water schemes and boreholes.
Officials said efforts are also underway to reduce water losses by repairing leakages and replacing ageing pipelines. The government believes that a combination of new water sources and improved infrastructure is necessary to prevent a severe water crisis in the coming years.
With demand rising steadily due to population growth and urban expansion, authorities view the Dotara and Shahdara dams as crucial steps toward securing a more reliable water supply for both cities.