RAWALPINDI: All available water tankers operated by the Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) have reportedly been shifted to Taxila to meet the water requirements of police personnel deployed in connection with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march toward Islamabad.
The PTI had postponed its planned September 27 long march until October 4. However, according to the information provided in the report, police personnel and water tankers deployed in Taxila have not yet been recalled to Rawalpindi.
The development has reportedly affected densely populated areas where residents depend on WASA tankers for water supplies.
A government official said more than 43,200 police personnel had been deployed in different areas as part of arrangements related to the PTI protest.
According to the figures, around 30,700 personnel were deployed in Attock, 10,600 in Rawalpindi district and 1,976 in Jhelum, Murree and Chakwal.
Several public buildings have also reportedly been made available for the accommodation of police personnel. In Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas, 35 schools were vacated for this purpose, while five government schools, one private school and a college in Taxila and surrounding areas were also reportedly allocated for police accommodation.
WASA Confirms Water Tanker Deployment
WASA Managing Director Azizullah Khan confirmed that water tankers had been sent to Taxila and nearby areas to meet the requirements of the deployed police personnel.
He said the tankers would remain in Taxila for as long as the police force remained there.
According to the WASA official, water is being supplied to Rawalpindi through the existing distribution system. He added that supply timings had been extended in some areas where residents previously relied on tanker services.
The temporary suspension of WASA tanker services has reportedly caused concern among residents in several parts of Rawalpindi.
The residents said WASA tankers generally provided water at comparatively lower rates than private suppliers. According to one resident, the price of a private water tanker increased from Rs4,000 to Rs5,000 following the disruption in WASA’s tanker service.
Residents have called for alternative arrangements for police personnel so that water tanker services can continue serving Rawalpindi’s residential areas.
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The situation has highlighted the competing demands placed on the city’s limited water-supply resources amid heightened security arrangements.
