The 64 Billion Rupee Tap: KP Demands Decades of Water Dues from Punjab

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has demanded 64 billion rupees from the Murree Water Board.

This massive financial claim covers the cost of water extracted over the last 77 years, dating back to 1947, which KP officials argue has been used without any compensation to the province of origin.

KP Standing Committee was informed that Murree’s primary water supply is sourced from 21 natural springs located within KP’s Galiyat region. While a 26-kilometer pipeline efficiently transports this water to reservoirs in Donga Gali, the financial benefits have never reached Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The KP Standing Committee was also informed by the Galyat Development Authority that in 1987, the Murree Water Board confiscated 300 acres of land in Galiyat. On this land, three massive water tanks were constructed with a combined capacity of 9.4 million gallons, further centralizing the resource away from the local population.

Ironically, while millions of gallons are sent to Punjab daily, the Galiyat region faces a severe water crisis. Approximately 64% of the local population lacks access to clean drinking water, forcing residents to travel miles to fetch water from the few remaining untapped springs.

Legally, the Standing Committee is invoking Article 184 of the Constitution, asserting that the province where a natural resource is located holds the primary right to its value. Since the Murree Water Board charges citizens for this water, KP insists on a fair share of that revenue.

Authorities have been directed to secure a formal agreement to ensure all future water usage is billed correctly. KP is seeking assistance from the federal and Punjab governments to recover the 64 billion rupee backlog, warning that if negotiations fail, they are prepared to take the matter to the High Court or Supreme Court.

Key Facts of the Water Dispute