Islamabad, often described as one of the world’s most beautiful capitals, faces a longstanding water crisis in several of its sectors, with residents of I-14 and I-16 deprived of supply for more than 25 years.
The sectors have no government tube wells or water supply lines, and the underground water table is extremely low. Residents rely on private tankers, paying between Rs1,600 and Rs1,800 for a tractor trolley of water.
“Whenever we ask, they say the water is coming from Tarbela or Khanpur, but it’s always just talk — no action,” one resident said. Another noted that limited tanker supply to a few homes had stopped altogether.
Officials from the Capital Development Authority have cited network availability in both sectors but say the main source is to come from Shah Allah Ditta. In G-13, a land dispute with the Housing Authority is delaying supply, CDA Water Management Director General Sardar Khan Zamri said.
Residents blame poor planning and lack of infrastructure in the city’s newer sectors. They urge the CDA to prioritize basic services over showcase projects, warning the crisis could turn into a humanitarian emergency.
