GUJAR KHAN: A number of water supply schemes constructed at a cost of millions of rupees in Gujar Khan, Jhelum and other parts of the region remain non-functional or abandoned due to alleged improper planning and lack of maintenance, locals said.

Former member of the provincial assembly (MPA) from Gujar Khan, Chaudhry Sajid Mahmood, said that Daultala town in Gujar Khan was without a water supply despite a scheme having been approved and set up in 2012.

Similarly, Ghulam Akbar, a resident of Tibbi Syedan, noted that water supply schemes of Phullarey Syedan and Tibbi Syedan villages of Sohawa tehsil remained largely ineffective due to alleged mismanagement by authorities.

Muhammad Saqib, a resident of Kahana village in Pind Dadan Khan, said his village was linked to the Naromi Dhan water supply, but little water was reaching the locality.

The sitting MPA of Gujar Khan, Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, pointed out the apathy and alleged negligence of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) authorities, saying a large number of water supply schemes remained non-functional and abandoned due to poor planning. He also lamented that Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Rawat, constructed at huge cost, could not be made operational due to water unavailability.

XEN PHED Jhelum Zulfiqar Nasir, responding to queries, said that water supply to Kahana could not be ensured due to rusted pipelines caused by saline water and that new estimates had been forwarded for laying a 1,100-foot pipeline.

Regarding the Tibbi and Phullarey Syedan schemes, he said disputes over pipeline extension had led to lapsing of funds.

SE PHED Rawalpindi Muhammad Hasnain said the Daultala scheme had been closed due to non-payment of bills, whilst a new scheme for Rawat Hospital had been conceived near the Sawan River and forwarded for approval.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026