Islamabad is encountering a growing water crisis — one that threatens the sustainability of life in Pakistan’s capital. To address the city’s rapidly declining underground water levels, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to make a partnership with South Korea to install 110 advanced piezometers that will automatically monitor underground water table conditions in real time.
The collaboration is supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and South Korean water experts, and it is considered to be an important decision to give a modern touch to Islamabad’s water management system and develop a long-term solution to the worsening water shortage of the capital.
Alarming Decline in Islamabad’s Water Table
The situation is dire. Experts warn that Islamabad’s underground water table is falling by nearly four feet every year, mainly due to unchecked urban expansion, over-extraction from tube wells, and the lack of new water sources.
Currently, the CDA supplies about 70 million gallons per day (MGD) to urban areas via its three main sources
- Simly Dam
- Khanpur Dam
- Tube wells
However, the city’s total demand stands at a staggering 283 MGD, leaving a massive shortfall that is forcing rural residents to rely on private boring systems and small local water schemes.
Since the completion of Khanpur Dam decades ago, no major water source has been added to Islamabad’s network — a gap that has now reached a critical point.
South Korea’s Role in Water Monitoring
In a high-level meeting held at the CDA headquarters, Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa and his team met with the South Korean delegation led by KOICA officials and leading hydrologists. The discussions centered around real-time water resource monitoring, groundwater recharge systems, and capacity building for CDA officials.
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According to a CDA press release, the South Korean experts offered technical assistance in creating an integrated groundwater management plan, which includes the installation of 110 piezometers — devices that track underground water pressure and depth. These systems will provide accurate, real-time data to help authorities manage water extraction more efficiently and detect early signs of depletion.
The Korean delegation also emphasized training programs and technological transfer, ensuring local engineers and officials can independently maintain and expand the system in the future.
Sustainable Water Management Initiatives
CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa directed that a clear implementation timeline be finalized to expedite the project. He reiterated that Islamabad’s water management must focus on sustainable, data-driven solutions.
He also shared updates on the city’s ongoing rainwater recharge and conservation projects. These include:
• Construction of 100 large rechargeable wells across Islamabad to redirect rainwater back into the aquifer.
• Building 20 large reservoirs to store and preserve clean water from natural streams.
• Establishing 11 wetlands to naturally filter wastewater and reduce pollution in the city’s water channels.
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Additionally, new wastewater treatment plants are being developed to recycle and reuse water for non-drinking purposes — an approach aligned with global sustainability standards.
A Sustainable Water Solution Toward a Water-Secure Future
Both sides agreed to accelerate joint efforts to develop a permanent and sustainable water solution for the Federal Capital. Islamabad’s cooperation with South Korea is expected to set a benchmark for other Pakistani cities struggling with similar water management challenges.
With modern technology, scientific monitoring, and international expertise, this initiative could mark a turning point in Islamabad’s water conservation strategy, which is to ensure that the city’s residents continue to receive safe, clean and reliable water for generations to come.