PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has made a formal financial claim as KP demands 64bn rupees from Murree Water Board, saying the province has never been compensated for water taken from its territory since 1947.
The provincial government says the claim reflects more than seven decades of unpaid use of its natural resources. Officials told the KP Standing Committee that Murree’s water supply has long depended on springs located inside KP, and no revenue has ever been shared with the province.
They said Murree receives most of its water from 21 natural springs in the Galiyat region. A 26-kilometre pipeline carries this water to reservoirs in Donga Gali, forming the backbone of Murree’s water system. Despite this, KP has not received compensation or royalty for the resource.
The Committee was also briefed that in 1987 the Murree Water Board took control of 300 acres of land in Galiyat. Three large water tanks with a combined capacity of 9.4mn gallons were built on this KP land, further centralising the resource for Murree’s use.
Officials pointed out that while millions of gallons are supplied to Punjab daily, Galiyat itself faces a worsening water crisis. Nearly 64% of residents lack access to clean drinking water and often walk several kilometres to fetch water from natural springs that are rapidly depleting.
The Committee highlighted that under Article 184 of the Constitution, provinces hold the primary right to natural resources found within their borders. Since the Murree Water Board charges citizens for the water supplied to Murree, KP argues it is legally entitled to a share of that revenue, which supports the claim that KP demands 64bn rupees from Murree Water Board.
To address the issue going forward, KP authorities have instructed relevant departments to prepare a formal agreement that ensures proper billing, monitoring and regulation of future water extraction. Officials said this would finally bring clarity to a system that has operated informally for decades.
The province has also approached the federal and Punjab governments for support in recovering the 64bn rupees. KP warned that if talks do not move forward, the matter will be taken to the High Court or the Supreme Court, reaffirming its position as KP demands 64bn rupees from Murree Water Board.
Key Facts of the Water Dispute
| Feature | Details |
| Total Financial Claim | 64 Billion Rupees |
| Duration of Claim | 77 years (since 1947) |
| Water Source | 21 natural springs in Galiyat, KP |
| Storage Infrastructure | 3 tanks in Donga Gali (Total capacity: 9.4 million gallons) |
| Land Issue | 300 acres in Galiyat confiscated in 1987 |
| Local Impact | 64% of Galiyat residents lack drinking water |
| Legal Basis | Article 184 of the Constitution of Pakistan |
| Proposed Action | Formal billing agreement or legal battle in High/Supreme Court |
