The Senate Standing Committee on Interior has directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to take action against illegal hostels operating in Islamabad’s residential areas, while also raising concerns over the city’s water shortage, fire safety and sewage pollution in Rawal Dam.
Committee Chairman Senator Faisal Vawda called for action against hostels operating in residential neighbourhoods in violation of regulations. He said the CDA had previously assured the committee that such facilities would be dealt with.
The CDA Chairman told the committee that the matter is currently before the Islamabad High Court and that the authority would follow the court’s orders. He assured lawmakers that the CDA would take action once permitted under the proceedings.
The committee also reviewed Islamabad’s worsening water shortage. The CDA said the capital needs about 250 million gallons of water daily but currently faces a shortfall of around 125 million gallons.
The authority is receiving about 5 million gallons per day from Rawal Dam and is working on several projects to increase the city’s water supply. Three to four dams are under development with involvement from WAPDA, the Punjab government and the CDA.
The CDA said completion of Shahdara Dam could add around 10 million gallons per day to Islamabad’s water supply. It also said a new supply line from Simly Dam is being developed, while around 100 million gallons per day is currently being supplied from the dam.
The CDA has also asked Punjab to increase Islamabad’s allocation from Khanpur Dam.
The committee raised separate concerns about fire safety at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with Senator Abid Sher Ali pointing out that inadequate water availability had caused problems during firefighting operations.
The committee sought details of PIMS’s latest fire and electrical safety inspection. The CDA said its most recent audit of the hospital was conducted in September 2025. The chairman directed that the audit report be submitted to the committee.
The panel also discussed sewage flowing into Rawal Dam. The CDA confirmed that wastewater was entering the reservoir from three to four locations, including Bani Gala.
Officials said the E-11 nullah is the largest of the affected drains, with three to four buildings reportedly constructed in front of it, raising further concerns about Islamabad’s drainage and environmental management.
