RAWALPINDI: The divisional administration on Friday asked the Small Dam Organisation to accelerate the pace of work on Daducha Dam to resolve the water shortage in the garrison city.

In a briefing to Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak during his visit to the site, officials said the completion deadline for the project was set for the year 2029 but it was likely to complete before that.

Overall, 60 per cent work has been completed – 39 per cent on the main dam, 62 per cent on spillways, 78 per cent on embankment construction, and 100 per cent on the cofferdam and diversion arrangements.

The commissioner reviewed the ongoing development work. Later, at a meeting held with the relevant authorities, he stated that work on the dam was progressing at a rapid pace and hopefully the project will be completed ahead of its deadline. He directed Small Dams to further accelerate the pace of work on the bridge and the residential colony.

The commissioner also instructed Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to complete the feasibility studies for water supply schemes from the dam to Rawalpindi city and the cantonment and submit a report to the provincial government so that land acquisition under Section 4 can be initiated on time.

He also directed that a study be conducted to assess the feasibility of utilising the dam for hydropower generation.

He instructed the authorities to expedite practical measures for connecting nearby areas and residential colonies to the water supply network to ensure the provision of clean drinking water to the local population. The commissioner stressed that transparency and quality must be ensured at all stages of the project and that construction materials should be regularly tested.

He also emphasised the need for effective coordination among all concerned departments to ensure timely completion of the project. It was decided that an effective monitoring mechanism would be established for the project, while regular field visits would be conducted to continuously review the pace and quality of work.

During a briefing, it was informed that pipeline installation within the dam body for bridge construction had been completed, and directions issued to further expedite bridge construction activities.

Meanwhile, the commissioner also reviewed work on the Kutchery Chowk Remodeling Project at a meeting in his office. The meeting was informed that work on the project continued even during the recent rains and the overall progress had reached 80 per cent.

Work on the Kutchery intersection is 76 per cent complete, development work on Iftikhar Janjua Road 74 per cent complete, and construction on Jinnah Park Chowk 75 per cent complete. Besides, utility ducts work is 83 per cent and construction of a pedestrian bridge is 55 per cent complete.

The commissioner said the project was progressing at a record pace in double shifts as the target was to complete it in 18-months while it will be completed in a record period of six months. “A deadline of May 2026 has been set for the completion of the project,” he said and directed further increase in the pace of work.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2026