Rawalpindi Residents Face Chaos as Wasa Misses Monsoon Deadline
The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) in Rawalpindi failed to meet the June 30 deadline set by the Punjab government to complete road excavations before the monsoon season, leaving major roads dug up and residents stranded in severe traffic jams, according to a report by Dawn.
Administrative Failure and Incomplete Projects
The civic infrastructure has crumbled as multiple arterial roads remain heavily excavated due to incomplete projects. The Punjab administration had ordered all digging to cease by June 30, with a ban on road excavations until September 15. However, Wasa did not comply.
The paralysis is tied to a PKR 5 billion development program divided into three packages. Under Package 1 (PKR 1.3 billion), only 7,704 feet of sewer lines have been laid out of a target of 150,439 feet. Package 2 (PKR 1.18 billion) achieved just 8,500 feet out of 136,331 feet. Package 3 (PKR 1.267 billion) completed only 900 feet of a 6,000-foot sewer line.
Official Response and Public Outrage
Wasa Managing Director Azizullah Khan told Dawn that the initial phase is near completion and would wrap up within a week or two. He blamed delays on state-enforced lockdowns in April and holidays for Eid and Muharram, which he said caused over 28 days of disruption.
Residents expressed deep frustration. Motorist Mohammad Raffique said traffic jams have become the norm, causing severe distress for three months. Nasir Mehmood of Saidpur Road noted that open trenches threaten both motorcyclists and cars, urging double shifts to expedite work. Iqbal Hussain lamented that despite starting in March, authorities failed to complete even a one-kilometre stretch.
Criticism of Project Management
Citizens suggested a staggered excavation-and-fill method (10 to 15 feet at a time) instead of tearing up entire stretches, which has paralyzed commercial zones like Raja Bazaar and disrupted schoolchildren, emergency patients, and merchants.
