BAJAUR/MOHMAND: Rooftop rainwater harvest initiative, designed to conserve monsoon water for daily use, has been launched in Bajaur and Mohmand tribal districts.

In Bajaur, the system has been established at the office of the additional deputy commissioner (F&P) in Civil Colony Khar with the technical support from the public health engineering department.

Deputy Commissioner Adnan Farid Afridi inaugurated the system at a ceremony on Sunday.

Officials from the public health department briefed participants on the process and importance of the scheme. They explained that the rooftop rainwater harvesting system collects rainwater from the roof through gutters and downpipes, removes dirt with a first flush device and filter, and then stores it in a tank.

Two sites selected for rainwater recharge in Mohmand

They said the stored water can be used for domestic purposes such as gardening, washing, and flushing, or treated further for drinking.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Afridi expressed gratitude over the establishment of the system and termed it an important step to address the water issue in the region and help maintain the underground water level.

He appreciated the public health engineering department’s local office for completing the scheme in a very short time.

Later, speaking to Dawn, the DC said the scheme was established at a cost of Rs600,000.

“The rooftop rainwater harvesting system in Bajaur aims to preserve rainwater, especially during the monsoon season, and make it useful for daily use instead of letting it go to waste. It was developed in line with our vision to increase the groundwater level in the district, which has significantly decreased over the past couple of years,” he added.

Mr Afridi noted that the district administration planned to establish similar systems in most government buildings and infrastructure before the next monsoon season.

Meanwhile, the Mohmand district administration has also launched a rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge initiative aimed at conserving monsoon water and replenishing underground reserves.

Additional deputy commissioner (relief) Mohammad Fayyaz Khan said the initiative was being implemented on the directives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, who had instructed district administrations to prepare at least two sites in every district for rainwater recharge.

The move comes as communities in parts of Mohmand increasingly depend on groundwater, springs and other seasonal sources to meet their domestic needs.

Mr Fayyaz Khan said a pilot rainwater harvesting system had initially been installed at the Governor Model School, Ghazi Baig, where rainwater from the school’s rooftop was being collected through a filtration and storage system.

“Two tanks, each with a capacity of 500 litres, have been installed along with filters,” he said, adding that the system could collect around 1,000 litres of rainwater for subsequent use.

He said the administration was working with the public health engineering department to identify additional sites suitable for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.

A major component of the initiative would be the conservation of rainwater flowing through a hill stream near Ekkaghund, where around 10 recharge pits are planned to facilitate the infiltration of water into the ground.

The administration also plans to gradually incorporate government facilities, including the district administration complex, Rescue 1122 office and Ekkaghund tehsil complex, into the rainwater harvesting programme.

“After covering government offices, we will gradually bring private schools and hospitals into the programme,” Mr Khan said, adding that support would also be sought from philanthropists and the business community.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2026