The annual silt-cleaning (bhal safai) of the Khanpur Dam, one of the major reservoirs supplying water to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, has begun.
Water supply from the dam has been cut down significantly and will remain so until the scheduled clean-up concludes on February 21.
Water stored in different areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and cantonment prior to the annual cleaning is already down to one-third. As water pressure decreases, supply in cantonment and Islamabad will be further limited to areas nearby overhead tanks.
Restoration of regular water supply will resume between February 23 and 25, with the cantonment board issuing an advisory to use water cautiously.