ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Masood Malik has called for a major expansion of groundwater recharge initiatives in Islamabad to tackle the continued depletion of the capital’s underground water reserves.
Speaking at an event titled “Protecting Islamabad’s Aquifers” at the USEFP Auditorium, the minister said around 200 recharge wells had been constructed across the capital as a pilot initiative, but stressed that the programme needed to be scaled up significantly.
Dr Malik said the recharge interventions had resulted in an estimated 0.4-millimetre rise in the water table, against a decline of approximately 1.5 metres, highlighting the need for much larger-scale measures to reverse groundwater depletion.
He described the recharge-well programme as an important achievement but cautioned that it should not be viewed as a complete solution to Islamabad’s growing water challenges.
The minister also called for improved management of both surface and groundwater resources following recent heavy rainfall in the capital. He said Islamabad had received around 200mm of rain, causing flooding in several areas and prompting authorities and relevant organisations to undertake emergency response measures.
Dr Malik also expressed concern over water quality and said treatment facilities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi were helping reduce contamination levels in treated water. However, he stressed that water quality required sustained monitoring and attention.
He noted that an additional water treatment plant had faced delays for several years despite repeated tendering attempts. According to the minister, progress had now been made, with the latest tendering process under way.
Dr Malik said delays in development projects were not confined to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) but were a broader issue affecting government departments.
Discussing Pakistan’s water security, the minister underscored the importance of safeguarding the country’s water interests through international treaties, legal mechanisms and a rules-based international system.
He said adherence to international agreements was essential for maintaining regional stability and protecting the rights of countries dependent on shared water resources, adding that Pakistan would continue to defend its legitimate water interests.
The minister further announced that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination had established a Clean Environment Fund, which would facilitate private-sector participation and due diligence in financing and supporting environmental initiatives.
He emphasised that greater public and private investment would be essential to address Pakistan’s growing environmental and water-security challenges.
