ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday shut down several tubewells that were installed on greenbelts along the eastern side of Islamabad Expressway.

The civic agency also stopped ongoing work on the installation of 10 new tubewells by Wasa Rawalpindi.

CDA officials claimed that besides Wasa at least three tubewells were operated by private individuals, who were allegedly involved in water tanker business.

In addition, a tubewell along Japan Road was closed by the capital administration, which triggered water shortage in the area. However, CDA’s water wing stated that the tubewell on Japan Road was not on its list and might have been shut down due to misunderstanding, and it will be restored soon.

NOC issued to agency for installation of 15 tubewells in limits of Islamabad withdrawn as locals face water shortage, says official

“Our operation is meant to get stopped water extraction by Wasa from Islamabad’s limits as residents of the capital are already facing shortage of water,” an official said.

“On Friday, we conducted an operation on eastern side of expressway facing Ghouri Town and in next few days we will conduct another operation towards Rawalpindi side as a number of tubewells are also installed over there,” the official said.

It is relevant to note that both Islamabad and Rawalpindi are water scarcity-hit cities and instead of closing down tubewells in the summer season the CDA should resolve the matter amicably in consultation with Wasa Rawalpindi.

“We are facing shortage of water, as CDA closed down a tubewell, which was supplying water to us. Closing down tubewells is not a solution, rather both authorities should talk and resolve this issue,” said Mohsin Hussain, a resident of Rawalpindi. He, however, said: “There should be no relaxations for private tanker mafia for water extraction,” he said.

It may be recalled that in the year 2022, the CDA issued a no-objection certificate to Wasa allowing it to install 15 tubewells in the limits of Islamabad along the Expressway. Subsequently, Wasa installed several tubewells and recently it started digging for installing new tubewells.

To this, CDA swung into action and withdrew the NOC before starting the operation on Friday.

Sources said CDA had also issued NOC to a welfare group for installation of one tubewell.

The officials said there was a clear clause in the NOC that Wasa will share 50pc water with CDA for residents of Islamabad, but they did not comply.

The CDA stated that due to the tubewells, domestic bores made by general public in the nearby area had dried down.

CDA Member Planning Naveed Ilahi on June 10, 2022 issued the NOC with a condition that 50pc of the water will be provided to nearby localities that fall in the jurisdiction of Islamabad.

The cancellation/withdraw letter issued by DG Water Mr Zimri on Wednesday stated that due to installation of tubewells in the limits of Islamabad, residents of nearby area were facing water shortage as their bores had dried up.

“The residents of the area are also agitating and approaching high forums to get the basic necessity of water and demanding closure of all such tubewells installed by Wasa Rawalpindi in limit of Islamabad,” read the letter. It added that the competent authority “has also taken a serious notice of situation arising thereupon and directed to withdraw the above referred NOC and, previous if any, to avoid any untoward situation to be created by agitating public in the adjoining area of Islamabad Expressway. Thus, all such NOC issued for the extraction of water or for the installation of tubewells is treated cancelled and the operation of these tubewells must be stopped with immediate effect,” stated the letter, which was addressed to the Wasa managing director.

Areas of Islamabad along the Expressway have been facing an acute shortage of water, particularly in Ghouri Town.

Islamabad has already been facing water shortage as around 70 million gallons daily (MGD) water is supplied to its urban population while the rural population is depending on water schemes of the local government. The total requirement of Islamabad is 220mgd. Meanwhile, the groundwater level in Islamabad has been depleting for the last about one decade.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2026