The government on Saturday approved an emergency action plan to address the worsening water shortage in Islamabad, as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired a high-level meeting to review immediate and long-term measures to strengthen water supply for the federal capital and Rawalpindi.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Adviser to the Prime Minister Syed Tauqeer Shah, and senior officials from the Ministry of Interior, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), WAPDA and the Rawalpindi administration. Participants reviewed proposals to expand water storage capacity and improve the efficiency of the existing distribution system.

Naqvi announced that the CDA, in coordination with the Punjab government, would jointly construct new dams to meet the long-term water requirements of the twin cities.

Officials also briefed the meeting on progress related to planned small dams and reservoirs, including the Chirah, Dotara and Shahdara projects.

WAPDA and CDA officials presented feasibility reports, proposed timelines and various options aimed at increasing water supply to both urban and rural areas of Islamabad.

The Dotara Dam, designed to store 110 million gallons per day, was approved with a completion target of two years.

The interior minister expressed concern over shortcomings in the existing water-supply system and underscored the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the distribution network.

He directed relevant departments to immediately identify system flaws and introduce effective mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted water delivery.

Calling the provision of water to Islamabad residents his “top priority,” Naqvi instructed authorities to implement a short-term emergency plan and utilise all available resources to meet immediate needs.

He also ordered a strict crackdown on water theft and the misuse of water connections.

To ensure timely execution, the minister sought a detailed 10-day roadmap outlining clear and actionable steps for on-ground implementation of all water-related projects.

Senior officials, including the secretary interior, additional secretary interior, chairman of the CDA, commissioner of Rawalpindi and members of the CDA Board, were also present at the meeting.