By Nasir Ali Choudhari
Islamabad: Residents of sectors G-13 and G-14 have expressed serious concern over the worsening water crisis in their areas and have demanded the immediate completion of the long-delayed Shah Allah Ditta Water Supply Project to ensure a permanent and reliable water supply.
According to residents, thousands of families continue to suffer due to the shortage of water despite clear directions from the Islamabad High Court regarding the provision of basic civic facilities.
The incomplete water supply pipeline from Shah Allah Ditta Dam, which was intended to permanently address the issue, remains unfinished, forcing residents to depend on costly water tankers.
Residents stated that the existing pipeline network provides only a limited quantity of water, insufficient to meet daily household requirements. Consequently, most families are compelled to purchase additional water through tanker services, placing a heavy financial burden on them.
Under the current arrangement, residents reportedly pay around Rs. 1,400 per household for tanker supply. Since one tanker is shared between two houses, each household receives only half a tanker per week, which residents say is inadequate for normal domestic use. Many families are therefore forced to arrange extra tankers at additional cost.
Residents have also raised concerns regarding transparency in the tanker supply system. They claim that while two households collectively pay Rs. 2,800 for a tanker, additional payments ranging between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 6,000 per tanker are reportedly made by the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) to contractors. According to residents, the overall expenditure on tanker supply runs into millions of rupees each month and warrants an immediate audit and public disclosure.
The issue has become particularly acute in G-14/4, where residents allege that tanker bookings and distribution are being managed by a private individual rather than an authorized FGEHA official. Residents argue that the arrangement lacks transparency and accountability and has led to unnecessary inconvenience and complaints regarding the treatment of residents seeking water supply services.
Residents questioned why an unofficial person has been allowed to coordinate a public service without a formal appointment, notification, or complaint mechanism. They stated that repeated requests for an official booking system have not resulted in any meaningful action.
The prolonged delay in completing the remaining portion of the Shah Allah Ditta water supply pipeline has further intensified public concerns. Residents believe that the continued reliance on tanker supply, originally intended as a temporary measure, requires a comprehensive review given the significant public funds being spent on the arrangement.
The residents have called for an independent inquiry into the reasons behind the delay in the pipeline project, the current status of the remaining construction work, payments made to tanker contractors over the years, the process used for awarding tanker contracts, and the involvement of any private individuals in tanker management.
Residents have appealed to the Prime Minister, President, Minister for Housing and Works, Secretary Housing and Works, and relevant parliamentary committees to intervene and ensure a permanent solution to the crisis.
Among their key demands are the immediate completion of the Shah Allah Ditta Dam water supply pipeline, public disclosure of a time-bound completion schedule, abolition of any unofficial tanker booking system in G-14/4, appointment of designated FGEHA officials for tanker management, and full transparency regarding tanker contracts and expenditures.
Residents emphasized that the water crisis is no longer merely a supply issue but has become a matter of governance, accountability, and citizens’ fundamental rights. They urged authorities to replace the costly tanker-based system with a permanent and efficient water supply network at the earliest opportunity.
