Dr. Musadik Malik convened a high-level meeting in Islamabad to assess contamination concerns and map out remedial steps for Rawal Lake. The session focused on identifying pollution sources, urgent testing requirements and coordination needed to protect drinking water supplies for Rawalpindi and surrounding communities.
Senior officials present included Secretary Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Ms. Aisha Moriani, Secretary Ministry of Water Resources Mr. Syed Ali Murtaza, the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director General of Rawalpindi Development Authority and the Managing Director of WASA, along with senior officers from relevant federal and provincial departments.
Briefing materials highlighted three main inflows to Rawal Lake: the Korang, Lake View and Jinnah streams. Officials reported contamination from untreated sewerage discharge in adjoining residential areas, and planning is underway for three sewerage treatment plants at Simli Road, Bari Imam and Shadrah to curb pollution at source.
The Federal Minister stressed that access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental right and that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination will provide full facilitation and coordination despite not holding direct jurisdiction over water supply and sewerage management. He directed the EPA and WASA to conduct comprehensive water quality testing at multiple inflow and outflow points to pinpoint sources and the extent of contamination, emphasizing that precise data is essential for evidence-based interventions.
Dr. Malik raised a stark public health concern, asking, “We must ask ourselves whether this is water we are comfortable feeding to our children” and called for strengthened federal-provincial coordination to fast-track installation of the planned sewerage treatment plants. Authorities were urged to move swiftly to ensure remediation, timely action and the earliest possible restoration of safe drinking water from Rawal Lake.
