Islamabad is often described as Pakistan's best-planned city. Yet if one were to compile a list of the greatest threats facing its future, the water crisis would undoubtedly rank at the top. Unfortunately, this issue has not yet received due attention. There is a well-known story that the initial plan for Islamabad did not provide sites for masjids and graveyard. A member of the federal legislature from East Pakistan, AK Fazlul Huq, remarked in the Assembly: "It appears that no Muslim will live in this city, and no one will die."

The apparent lack of seriousness among the responsible authorities, toward the looming water crisis in the capital is deeply alarming. If Fazlul Huq were alive today, he might well remark: "It once appeared that no one would die in this city. Now it appears that no one will be able to live here."

The city's population continues to grow, new housing societies are emerging and commercial activities are expanding. However, there appears to be no comprehensive and coordinated strategy to address the increasing pressure on groundwater resources.

Ensuring water supply for the growing population has always been, and remains, a fundamental necessity. The question, however, is whether our priorities reflect this reality. Did Islamabad need a modern metro bus system before it needed a comprehensive water security plan? This is not merely a political question; it concerns the fundamental principles of development planning and serves as a telling example of governance challenges.

With limited........

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