Islamabad, Rawalpindi Have Water Left For Just 35 Days As Critical Dam Nears 'Dead Level': Report
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India last week suspended the Indus Water Treaty, a decades-old agreement with Pakistan seen as a vital lifeline for downstream regions, in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack
A dire water crisis is fast unfolding in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan as the once-reliable Khanpur Dam inches toward depletion, exposing rocks and parched land where once water flowed freely. India last week suspended the Indus Water Treaty, a decades-old agreement seen as a vital lifeline for downstream regions, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack which was traced to Pakistan-based terror groups.
The Khanpur Dam, a major source of potable water for Rawalpindi and Islamabad, now holds only enough reserves to last about 35 days, according to figures reported by Dawn News.
The dam, located on the Haro River, a minor tributary of the Indus, has seen water levels plunge dramatically due to prolonged dry weather and dwindling rainfall. As of Tuesday, May 7, the water level stood at 1,935 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), just 25 feet above the 'dead level" – the point at which the dam can no longer supply water.
The natural springs that feed the dam's catchment area have dried up, said an official from the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), attributing the situation to a relentless drought and sparse rainfall. The official noted that the current inflow is a meagre 82 cusecs, while the daily outflow has reached 235 cusecs – an imbalance that is rapidly draining reserves.
Of that outflow, 90 cusecs are being supplied daily to the Capital Development Authority (CDA), which oversees water distribution in Islamabad. Smaller consumers, such as the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) in Taxila, are receiving around 6.18 cusecs. Meanwhile, agricultural allocations are under threat: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab irrigation departments are currently receiving 48 and 42 cusecs, respectively, but authorities say irrigation supply will be halted entirely starting next week to conserve drinking water.
To confront the looming shortage, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in Rawalpindi has launched a strict 'Water Control Plan'. This includes a crackdown on illegal water connections, penalties for non-payment of water bills, and restrictions on non-essential water use. WASA Managing Director Mohammad Salim Ashraf said Rawalpindi needs 50 million gallons of water each day but is receiving only 30 million – a shortfall of 20 million gallons.
The agency is preparing to implement water rationing measures by mid-May if rainfall doesn't replenish supplies soon. Authorities warn that without immediate relief, even the provision of drinking water could be compromised.
Satellite images and eyewitness reports show dried-up channels and exposed bedrock in parts of the Khanpur reservoir, especially near the spillway and main storage areas. The dam lies about 40 kilometres from Islamabad and 15 kilometres from Haripur, traditionally serving as a critical resource for both cities.
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