The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has formally demanded outstanding water dues of Rs 64.62 billion from Punjab, claiming that water from the Galiyat region has been supplied to Murree since 1947 without proper compensation or agreement.
According to officials, the KP government has sent letters to both the federal government and the Punjab government outlining its موقف on the long-standing issue. The letters state that Murree Water Board has been extracting water from Galiyat without authorization and without any formal agreement or payment.
The KP government claims that approximately 500,000 gallons of water are being supplied daily from Galiyat to Murree, despite the region itself facing water shortages. Authorities argue that this practice has continued for decades without a fair distribution mechanism or financial settlement.
In its communication, KP has also objected to ongoing infrastructure development by the Murree Water Board in the Galiyat area. Specifically, it has called for an immediate halt to the construction of a 2 million-gallon water tank in Dunga Gali, stating that the work is being carried out without the approval of the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA).
The provincial government has urged the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination to facilitate a formal agreement between KP and Punjab regarding water sharing. It has further demanded that ownership and control of all water sources, including springs and reservoirs in the Galiyat region, be recognized as belonging to KP.
Additionally, KP has proposed an interim arrangement until a final agreement is reached. Under this proposal, 250,000 gallons of water should be allocated for Galiyat’s own use, while the remaining 250,000 gallons supplied to Murree should be compensated at market rates within a two-year period.
Officials also noted that the water supply infrastructure from Dunga Gali to Murree dates back to the British colonial era, which they argue does not justify its continued use without a modern legal and financial framework.
Meanwhile, KP’s Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam reiterated the province’s stance, stating that Punjab owes KP approximately Rs 65 billion in water dues. He emphasized that payments should be made promptly and that the issue must be resolved through proper financial settlement and policy agreement.
The development highlights growing inter-provincial tensions over resource sharing, particularly water, which remains a critical and often contested resource in Pakistan.
