Twin Cities Face Scorching Heat and Escalating Water Scarcity

Rawalpindi: Intense sunlight and high humidity created extreme heat across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Sunday, prompting residents to remain indoors and exacerbating water shortages.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded a high of 41 °C in the twin cities on Sunday, and forecasters warned that the hot, dry conditions are expected to persist for at least two more days.

A Met Office official noted that temperatures would remain between 40 °C and 41 °C, indicating that these conditions are typical for this season.

Temperatures have stayed elevated over recent days, making outdoor activities uncomfortable for residents of the twin cities, particularly during the afternoon.

Many young people sought relief by visiting the Rawal, Khanpur, and Simli dams, Chattar Park, and nearby water reservoirs for swimming, leading to crowded swimming pools throughout the twin cities.

The extreme heat resulted in dozens of individuals being hospitalized after fainting during the ongoing heatwave.

Amid the sweltering heat, residents are also confronting water shortages, with reports of low pressure and drying supply lines in numerous areas of Rawalpindi Cantonment and the city.

Residents of Chaklala, Faisal Colony, Shah Khalid Colony, Gulzar-i-Quaid, Morgah, Dhoke Chaudhrian, Arya Mohallah, Sadiqabad, Ratta, Misrial Road, Afshan Colony, Tench Bhatta, Gawalmandi, and Naseerabad have reported water scarcity over the past several days, despite repeated complaints to the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) that have produced no improvement.

Riasat Ali, a resident of Faisal Colony, said the water shortage has persisted for two weeks; he noted that WASA has failed to provide water while still levying monthly charges.

He added that, despite repeated complaints, the water supply remains unrepaired, forcing residents to buy water from private tankers at roughly Rs4,000 per delivery.

Abdul Qadir, a resident of Tench Bhatta, said daily activities are hampered by the lack of water, compelling families to hire private tankers to meet their needs.

He said the cantonment provides water for only about 15 minutes during such intense heat, and warned that if the problem emerged at the start of summer, conditions in mid‑June would be unimaginable.

RCB officials reported that summer water consumption has risen, widening the gap between demand and supply; the cantonment receives just nine million gallons per day from Khanpur Dam, which is inadequate for the increasing demand.

They added that the RCB is exerting all efforts to deliver clean drinking water to every part of the cantonment.

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