Amid an escalating water crisis, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi has launched a city-wide crackdown to curb water wastage by both domestic and commercial users.
Strict penalties have been introduced, with households fined Rs10,000 and commercial users Rs20,000 for misusing water, particularly for activities like washing vehicles, streets, or courtyards with hosepipes.
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WASA has also begun a major drive against illegal water usage and unpaid bills, disconnecting water connections of 46 violators across Rawalpindi.
As summer temperatures rise, the district is grappling with a severe water shortage, pushing residents — including women and children — to travel long distances to collect water.
WASA Managing Director Muhammad Saleem Ashraf explained that the agency currently supplies 51 million gallons of water daily, while demand has surged to 70 million gallons.
To address this shortfall, WASA has extended the operating hours of tube wells, repaired system leakages, and is working to ensure fair water distribution throughout the city.
Tube well schedules are now being synchronized with electricity supply hours in areas affected by load-shedding.
Following court directives, strict implementation of water wastage fines is underway.
In addition, WASA has launched public awareness campaigns, urging citizens to use water wisely and store it efficiently in household tanks. The agency’s magistrate has also begun serving notices to defaulters, with recovery operations now in motion.
