RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has recovered Rs1.697 billion during the eight months of the current fiscal year against the target of Rs1.581 billion.

A meeting of the civic agency’s officials was informed that the collection was approximately Rs116 million more than the set target.

Similarly, a record recovery of more than Rs250 million was made last month. So far during this month, more than Rs210 million have been recovered and it is hoped that the recovery target will be met in the coming days, the meeting was further informed.

The huddle was held at the Wasa Rawalpindi office under the chairmanship of its Managing Director (MD) Muhammad Saleem Ashraf.

According to official sources, the meeting was held to review the revenue recovery of Wasa Rawalpindi.

The meeting was attended by relevant revenue staff including the director of revenue and deputy director of revenue.

On this occasion, Wasa MD Saleem Ashraf said that the recovery target in the first eight months of the current financial year was Rs1.581 billion. During the said period, Rs1.697 billion was recovered.

However, the staff had been asked to improve the financial recovery from chronic defaulters so the money could be spent to improve the water supply system.

He appreciated the staff and officials for their performance.

Mr Ashraf said that Wasa is an organisation that runs on its own resources and meets its own expenses.

“The provincial government has made it clear that the performance of the agencies across the province would be improved. There is a dire need to improve the financial situation of the organisation so people would get maximum benefit from the available resources,” he said.

He gave a special ultimatum to the officials to recover 100 per cent of the outstanding dues from all defaulters. He directed the revenue director and deputy directors to immediately disconnect the connections of the defaulters.

On this occasion, Saleem Ashraf said that WASA defaulters are being given a last chance to clear their dues, after which there will be a ban on late fees.

He urged WASA consumers to prove that they are responsible citizens. He expressed his determination that the crackdown will continue till the last defaulter pays the bills and no pressure will be tolerated in this regard.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025