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Boiling Point: Climate Inequality and Water Crisis in Islamabad & Rawalpindi

Credits: Mahrosh Usman (Climate Researcher)

In what ways are increasing temperatures and deteriorating water scarcity in Islamabad and Rawalpindi disproportionately affecting poor and marginalized communities, particularly people living in informal settlements?


Introduction


In June 2025, the heat index in Islamabad climbed to nearly 49°C, one of the highest ever in the city. In poor neighborhoods of Rawalpindi, women and children waited for hours in long queues for a single bucket of water, while those in more affluent areas still operated private borewells.


Climate change is amplifying Pakistan's urban water crisis, but its harshest impacts are not felt equally. In the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the poor-especially those living in informal settlements-face the gravest threats from heatwaves and water shortages. This article argues that the water crisis is not just an environmental emergency; it is a social and economic injustice rooted in systemic neglect.


Background & Context


Islamabad and Rawalpindi, although commonly referred to as one urban area, are politically and administratively separate. Yet both share the same water issues. Islamabad's official population is ~1.2 million (2017), though likely over 2 million today due to informal growth.[5] Yet with this growth, there has been no significant new water supply developed since the 1990s.[3]


Water supply to Islamabad is largely drawn from Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam, and tube wells. The city requires approximately 220 million gallons per day (MGD), but receives merely about 70 MGD, as informed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) [2]. Private water tankers, deep borewells, or remain unfulfilled entirely close this shortfall. WASA (Water and Sanitation Agency) of Rawalpindi also experiences such shortages, particularly in summer months.


Climate change has worsened the situation. Patterns of rainfall have grown more unpredictable. Khanpur Dam, one of the area's primary reservoirs, fell perilously close to "dead level" in 2025 [4]. Unplanned urban growth has only added to the pressure on current infrastructure.


Current Impacts


Life Without Water in Katchi Abadis


In Islamabad's slums, such as G-7, I-10, and Farash Town, piped water access is almost non-existent. In a 2024 report by The Express Tribune, most of these residents are either forced to use the adjacent borewells-if a neighbor happens to be generous enough to share-or are forced to buy water at exorbitant rates from private tankers. These tankers range from Rs. 3,000 per day, close to half a daily wage laborer's monthly income. Kids frequently miss school to assist in fetching water, as reported by residents. Women have to walk for miles in scorching heat to stand in lines for taps that function or do not. Not only is this inconvenient, but it is also hazardous, especially in peak summer.


Heatwave Fallout


In Rawalpindi and Islamabad in June 2025, both had daytime temperatures of 44-45°C [1]. Geo News cited dozens of cases of heatstroke in government hospitals [6]. In poor areas where electricity is undependable or unobtainable, the inhabitants don't have fans or coolers. Drawing water under such conditions becomes a matter of life and death. Temporary "heat relief" shelters have been established by local governments and NGOs with cold water and shade. But to most, these are like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound.


The Rich-Poor Divide


By contrast, people living in expensive zones like F-6 and F-8 enjoy the services of borewells, water purification, and round-the-clock electricity. Their grass is green, while deprived families in katchi abadis rely on their neighbors for a few liters of water. This contrast shows how climate effects perpetuate class divisions.


Systems of Injustice


The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has consistently declined to legalize more than 38 illegal settlements in Islamabad, where thousands of residents lack even basic amenities such as water, sanitation, or legal entitlements [7]. CDA has been criticized in the media and civil society for neglecting settlements.


Since these areas have no legal recognition, residents have no political clout to negotiate for infrastructure. Simultaneously, government funding is disproportionately spent on road widening and upper-class housing projects, instead of fair water distribution.


Solutions & Calls to Action


  • Legalize long-term informal settlements and incorporate them into municipal planning.

  • Construct community water points and pipes in underserved locales.

  • Control private tanker operators to avoid price hikes.

  • Prioritize the completion of mega water projects such as Ghazi Barotha and Dadhocha Dam.

  • Provide education to communities about water conservation and assist in grassroots movements calling for water justice and protection of our waters.


Conclusion


Islamabad and Rawalpindi are not only short of water but are short of time. The climate crisis is deepening, and if authorities don't put marginalized communities first, the most vulnerable will remain suffering in silence.

Water is not a privilege. It is a right. In the country's capital, no one should be compelled to plead for it.


Don't Just Read - ACT NOW!


We can’t just sit back and do nothing-not when our neighbors are standing in line for water in scorching 48°C heat while the privileged are busy watering their lawns. If this makes you angry-and it definitely should-then it’s time to take action. Join CKI’s Climate Ambassador Program, where young people are spearheading campaigns, educating their communities, and putting pressure on lawmakers to make water justice a reality. Or get involved with CKI’s Climate Enrichment Program, where even a simple donation drive can help raise vital funds for small nonprofits tackling this crisis every day. These movements aren’t distant; they begin with us-with you. If you care, it’s time to act. The water crisis isn’t waiting for anyone, and neither should we.


Sources



Additional Sources


These sources informed background research but were not directly cited:


SC flays CDA over inaction on Katchi Abadis – The Express Tribune https://tribune.com.pk/story/2543287/sc-flays-cda-over-inaction-on-katchi-abadis

Residents from Katchi Abadis protest against CDA's demolitions – ProPakistani https://propakistani.pk/proproperty/residents-from-katchi-abadis-protest-against-cdas-evictions-and-de molitions-in-islamabad

Heatwave alert issued for Rawalpindi – Pakistan Today https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/05/16/heatwave-alert-issued-for-rawalpindi-as-hospitals-see-ris e-in-heat-related-illnesses

Katchi Abadis under threat in Islamabad: A long timeline of neglect – Dawn Archives https://www.dawn.com/news/1203778/38-illegal-slums-in-capital-to-be-razed


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