ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, Sohail Ashraf, convened a high-level meeting with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Monday to finalize a long-term Islamabad water supply and infrastructure reform strategy. The strategic session, held at the CDA Headquarters on May 18, 2026, focused heavily on securing advanced technical assistance to drastically improve water distribution, sanitation, and quality across the federal capital.

During the session, the JICA delegation committed to drafting a comprehensive Master Plan covering the city's water supply, sewage, and drainage systems. Crucially, representatives confirmed that this blueprint will remain viable until 2060, strategically accounting for the rapid population growth and future civic needs of Islamabad over the next few decades.

The high-profile meeting saw active participation from senior administration, including CDA Member Administration Esfandyar Baloch and DG Islamabad Water Sardar Khan Zimri, alongside other key department heads.

Technical Overhaul of Shahdara and Dotara Dams

A core focus of the bilateral talks centered on expanding Islamabad's reservoir capacity through major dam projects. Chairman CDA Sohail Ashraf announced that construction operations have officially commenced on the Shahdara Dam, with JICA set to provide specialized technical expertise for both the Shahdara and Dotara Dam initiatives.

To protect these expanding water resources, the civic body is executing immediate operational upgrades. The CDA chief outlined several aggressive measures currently underway, which include:

• Systematically identifying and eliminating line losses across the capital's grid.

• Enforcing strict measures to prevent widespread water wastage.

• Launching civic campaigns to promote conservation and efficient water usage.

Upgrading Simly and Sangjani Filtration Plants

Beyond long-term planning, the partnership is targeting immediate water quality improvements through infrastructure modernization. Sohail Ashraf confirmed that the CDA will fully leverage JICA’s technical proficiency to optimize operations at the critical Simly and Sangjani water filtration plants.

Following the boardroom discussions, the JICA delegation conducted an on-site field visit to both the Simly and Sangjani facilities to evaluate current operational capacities. The visiting experts reiterated Japan's readiness to provide end-to-end technical cooperation, ensuring the successful modernization of Islamabad's primary water infrastructure.