RAWALPINDI: The Chahan Dam water supply project is expected to be completed by December 2027, helping address water shortages in several parts of the garrison city and benefiting more than 250,000 people.
This was stated by Punjab Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Bilal Yasin during a visit to the project site, where he reviewed progress on the construction of the filtration plant.
The minister said the Chahan Dam water supply project was a gift from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to the people of Rawalpindi. Upon completion, it would help ensure the provision of clean drinking water to several areas of the city.
He added that the water treatment plant was expected to be completed next year and would benefit more than 250,000 residents by improving access to clean water and essential civic facilities.
Rs35bn project to provide clean drinking water to over 250,000 people in Rawalpindi
Wasa officials briefed the minister that the project was being executed with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Punjab government. The total cost of the project is Rs35 billion, and it is scheduled for completion by December 2027.
The officials said the objective of the DREAMS project was to conserve groundwater and augment supplies from surface water sources, with a planned capacity of 25.8 million gallons per day (MGD).
The work on the project began in October 2024.
It may be mentioned that the ADB has provided $114 million in loans to the Punjab government at an interest rate of 2pc for four major projects in Rawalpindi aimed at providing clean drinking water to residents.
Meanwhile, Bilal Yasin also inspected houses being constructed under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme and reviewed the ongoing construction work.
The minister said providing homes to middle-income families was among the Punjab government’s top priorities. He added that the programme was helping citizens become homeowners and providing them with access to dignified housing.
He stated that financial assistance had been provided to 217,520 families under the programme, while 126,239 houses had been completed so far.
The provincial minister also visited the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) and inspected various parks across the city. PHA Director General Ahmed Hassan Ranjha accompanied him.
During the visit, Mr Ranjha briefed the minister on completed and ongoing horticultural projects, including initiatives to improve public recreational facilities, parks, squares, roundabouts and other public spaces across Rawalpindi.
He said the authority was working on various projects to transform Rawalpindi into a greener, cleaner and more attractive city. The initiatives included improving recreational facilities in public parks, promoting tree plantation, ensuring proper plant care, restoring green spaces and enhancing public areas to provide residents with a healthy and pleasant environment.
During the inspection, the minister stressed the importance of ongoing initiatives to improve the urban environment and upgrade public recreational spaces.
Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2026
