ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Malik, on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review water contamination issues at Rawal Lake and direct measures to tackle the problem.
Read More: Climate minister warns of fragmenting global order
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Secretary of Climate Change Aisha Moriani, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Syed Ali Murtaza, Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Director General of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), and the Managing Director of Wasa.
وفاقی وزیر ڈاکٹر مصدق ملک کی زیرِ صدارت راول جھیل کے پانی کے معیار پر اعلیٰ سطحی اجلاس
اجلاس میں سیکرٹری وزارتِ موسمیاتی تبدیلی، سیکرٹری وزارتِ آبی وسائل، DG EPA، ڈی-جی راولپنڈی ڈویلپمنٹ اتھارٹی (RDA)، ایم-ڈی واسا (WASA)، اور متعلقہ سینئر افسران نے شرکت کی۔ pic.twitter.com/tUXA5oD4Qc
— Ministry of Climate Change, Pakistan (@ClimateChangePK) January 15, 2026
Officials briefed the minister on the three main water inflows into Rawal Lake—Korang, Lake View, and Jinnah streams—which have been affected by untreated sewerage from nearby residential areas. Plans are underway to construct three sewerage treatment plants (STPs) at Simli Road, Bari Imam, and Shadrah to curb contamination.
Dr Malik emphasised that clean drinking water is a fundamental right for all citizens and stressed that while his ministry does not directly manage water supply and sewerage, it will coordinate fully with relevant authorities to ensure timely and effective intervention.
The minister directed EPA and Wasa to conduct comprehensive water quality testing at multiple points along the lake’s inflows and outflows to accurately identify sources and the extent of contamination. He stressed that evidence-based interventions are essential for designing effective remediation measures.
Read More: Climate minister condemns Shakarparian tree felling, vows strict action
Raising a pressing concern, Dr Malik asked, “We must ask ourselves whether this is water we are comfortable feeding to our children,” calling for strengthened inter-departmental coordination to fast-track STP installation and ensure the provision of safe drinking water to the public as soon as possible.