Rawalpindi: Azam Minhas, Vice Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party, has called for urgent action to address the severe water shortage affecting approximately three hundred households around Usman Park in the Asghar Mall Scheme. Minhas met with Zeeshan Gondal, Deputy Managing Director of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), to discuss long-term solutions to the water scarcity that residents have endured for two years.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, the meeting with Deputy MD Gondal resulted in several key recommendations to alleviate the water crisis permanently. The suggestions included the construction of drainage wells in Usman Park to enhance the area’s water table and allowing rainwater to be collected in the park. Additionally, Minhas pointed out the need for repairs to the water infrastructure, including fixing a broken water level gauge on the overhead tank and addressing long-standing issues of cleanliness and maintenance.

Deputy MD Gondal responded with assurances that measures would be taken to resolve the water shortage definitively, issuing directives to subordinate officers to act promptly. During the meeting, concerns were also raised about the inefficiency and negligence of WASA staff, which have exacerbated the water issues, particularly following a recent incident where a fire damaged the electricity meter connected to the water motor, leaving residents without water.

The Pasban Democratic Party emphasized that a proactive and modern approach, including direct pumping of water into household lines and the construction of a storage pond to utilize water from the Rawal Dam, should be considered. They also highlighted the need for security improvements to prevent theft and vandalism, which have frequently disrupted local water supply systems.