ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the preparation of an integrated water supply, sewerage and drainage master plan for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Sohail Ashraf and Miyagawa Masahito, the team leader of JICA Detailed Planning Survey Team, signed the MoU at a ceremony.

“The signing marks an important milestone in Pakistan-Japan cooperation for strengthening Islamabad’s water management infrastructure, improving public service delivery and ensuring sustainable water resources for present and future generations.

The initiative will support CDA’s commitment to providing water to all citizens of Islamabad and addressing the capital’s growing water requirements through long-term planning and responsible resource management,” read a press release issued by the CDA.

Project will cover Islamabad’s Zones 1–5 with facility planning focused on Zone 1 and strategic assessment of Zones 2–5, says civic agency

It said the 36-month technical cooperation project will cover ICT Zones 1–5 with detailed facility planning focused on Zone 1 and strategic assessment of Zones 2–5. The master plan will adopt 2050 as its target year and provide short, medium and long-term strategies for sustainable water supply, sewerage, sanitation and drainage services.

The project will assess existing and potential water resources, including surface water and groundwater, to identify sustainable options for meeting Islamabad’s long-term water requirements. It will review existing water resource development proposals, water demand forecasts, treatment and distribution infrastructure, storage capacity, water quality, leakage reduction and operation and maintenance requirements.

The study will also examine the feasibility of potential water sources and development options, including relevant proposals for dams and other water supply projects, while considering climate risks, environmental impacts, costs and implementation requirements.

“The Master Plan will address sewerage and sanitation requirements across both sewered and non-sewered areas of Islamabad. It will assess wastewater collection and treatment facilities, decentralized treatment systems, on-site sanitation and fecal-sludge management with the objective of improving public health and protecting the environment.

An integrated assessment of stormwater drainage networks, natural streams, drains and flood-risk areas will identify priority interventions to improve drainage capacity, maintenance and flood resilience, particularly in developing areas.

“Digital transformation will be an important component of the project to improve operational efficiency, customer management and financial performance of Islamabad Water. The proposed measures may include digital customer records, meter reading, billing and collection, asset management, leakage detection, water-quality monitoring and complaint handling. Pilot activities will also explore water metering, monitoring of supply hours, flow, pressure and water quality, as well as improved customer service systems. The findings will support future action plans and better management of water services.”

The CDA said the project will identify priority infrastructure and investment requirements on the basis of urgency, technical feasibility, economic and financial viability, environmental and social impacts, climate resilience and implementation capacity. It will provide a strategic basis for future budgeting, financing, project formulation and implementation.

A Joint Coordination Committee, chaired by the chairman CDA, will oversee coordination, progress review and monitoring of the project. CDA and Islamabad Water will jointly formulate the master plan with the JICA Mission Team, ensuring institutional ownership, technical capacity development and alignment with Islamabad’s future needs.

The draft record of discussions is tentatively expected to be signed in late November 2026 subject to completion of necessary procedures. The technical cooperation project is tentatively expected to commence in March 2027.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2026