KP seeks Rs64.62bn in water dues from Punjab over Galiyat–Murree supply

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has demanded Rs64.62 billion in outstanding dues from the Punjab government over the supply of water from Galiyat to Murree.

The KP government has sent letters to the federal government and Punjab authorities regarding Galiyat’s water, seeking Rs64.62 billion in dues dating back to 1947.

The letter states that Galiyat is facing a water crisis, while the Murree Water Board is allegedly transporting water from Galiyat without authorisation and extracting 500,000 gallons daily without any agreement or compensation.

According to the letter, construction work on water supply infrastructure by the Murree Water Board in Galiyat — including a 2-million-gallon water tank in Dunga Gali — should be stopped as it was undertaken without the approval of the Galiyat Development Authority.

The letter further states that the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination should facilitate an agreement between the two governments.

It also calls for recognising KP’s rights over all relevant springs, waterfalls, and water reserves, and handing them over to the province.

The government has authorised the Galiyat Development Authority to negotiate a water-sharing agreement with Punjab.

It has demanded that, until a final agreement is reached, 250,000 gallons of water be allocated to Galiyat, while payment for the remaining 250,000 gallons should be made at market rates within two years.

It is noted that the water supply infrastructure from Dunga Gali to Murree was originally constructed during the British colonial period.