Islamabad to Gain First New Water Source in Almost Three Decades

CDA has issued a tender for the Shahdara Dam, aiming to add 5-10 MGD to the capital's supply and finish the project within 20 months.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 29, 2026 · 9:42 AM 2 min read

Key takeaways

CDA issued a tender for the Shahdara Dam, the first new water source for Islamabad in nearly 30 years.

The dam is expected to add about 5 to 10 million gallons per day to the capital's supply.

Chairman Sohail Ashraf said the project aims to be finished within 20 months, faster than the two-year PC-I schedule.

Four check dams and 100 recharge wells are planned around the Margalla Hills, though tenders are pending.

Islamabad's water demand is about 250 MGD, while CDA currently supplies roughly 70 MGD.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) announced on Wednesday that it has floated a tender for the Shahdara Dam project, which will become the first new water source for Islamabad in almost 30 years, with construction set to start soon.

CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf said the PC-I outlines a two-year timeline, but the authority hopes to complete the dam in 20 months. The structure will be situated close to the Shahdara picnic area.

A CDA press release estimates the dam could supply roughly 5 to 10 million gallons per day, depending on final design, technical studies and operational plans.

Ashraf added that four check dams will be constructed at the Margalla Hills foothills near D-12, Shah Allah Ditta and Saidpur, and a project for 100 recharge wells will begin to boost the city's underground water table. Tenders for those check dams and wells have not yet been released.

Islamabad receives about 1,100 mm of rain each year, yet much of it runs off through nullahs. The CDA is also collaborating with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on a comprehensive water supply, sewerage and drainage master plan.

The city's water demand stands at around 250 MGD, while the CDA currently provides about 70 MGD, mainly to urban zones, from Khanpur Dam, Simly Dam and tubewells. Rural areas largely depend on borewells and small schemes managed by the district administration.

During each monsoon, the CDA releases large volumes from Simly Dam, and Rawalpindi authorities release water from Rawal Dam, as no storage system exists for surplus water. The CDA also plans Chinot Dam in the Simly Dam catchment and Dotara Dam in the Khanpur Dam catchment area.