ISLAMABAD: To overcome water shortages in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, authorities have approved plans to build two new dams, namely Dotara and Shahdara.

If all goes as planned, construction of the two new dams will be completed by December 2027.

A meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi and attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa and other officials of the civic agency and the Punjab government on Friday gave the go-ahead for the start of the Dotara and Shahdhra dams on a priority basis.

During the meeting, sources said, Wapda shared the findings of its initial feasibility report about the Dotara Dam, which will be constructed upstream of Khanpur Dam.

Dotara and Shahdara dams to be completed by December 2027, feasibility and funding to be fast-tracked

The meeting was told that the dam will have the capacity to supply 72 million gallons per day (mgd) of water. The tentative cost of the project is around Rs40 billion, excluding land acquisition.

Sources said Wapda was directed to complete a proper feasibility report within two months so that construction could be started. The chair directed that the project should be launched soon after the finalisation of the feasibility report to ensure completion by December 2027.

As per rough estimates, the Dotara Dam will be 122 metres high and 350 metres long.

According to officials, the project would be ideal for overcoming water shortages in Islamabad, and fetching water through gravity would make it a unique project in the city’s history.

They said around 40 per cent of Khanpur Dam’s catchment area falls within the alignment of this project, while it will have 57 per cent of its own catchment area.

The meeting decided that the federal and Punjab governments would be requested to provide funding for the project.

Meanwhile, the meeting also directed the construction of the Shahdara Dam, a small dam to be built on the Shahdhra stream in the Margalla Hills.

The meeting was told that the estimated cost of the project is around Rs4 billion and it will have the capacity to supply 10 mgd.

Sources said participants decided that both projects should be started as soon as possible to ensure completion before December 2027.

Sources said the meeting also directed the CDA to take steps to stop water leakages and replace rusting pipelines. The meeting also discussed the Ghazi Brotha/Indus River project, which is designed to provide 100 mgd each to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

However, participants stressed the early start of the two dams, terming them short-term projects that could be completed within two years.

It was decided that while attention would continue to be paid to the mega project, priority would be given to completing the two dams.

It is relevant to note that Islamabad is a water-scarce city, as no serious steps were taken over the past two decades to explore alternative water sources. Currently, the CDA supplies around 70 mgd from three sources, Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam and tube wells, against a requirement of about 220 mgd. The rural population, meanwhile, depends on small water schemes or bore water.

Recently, CDA Chairman Mr Randhawa had stated that, besides completing major development projects in Islamabad, the civic agency was focusing on water-related projects and that new water projects would be launched soon.

He made these remarks at the inauguration of the Shaheen Chowk underpass.

A week later, a meeting was held that decided the start of the two dams. An official source said the interior minister was keen to see the early start and completion of these projects within two years.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2026