Punjab Plans 150,000 Smart Water Meters for Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad
The Punjab government has announced plans to install more than 150,000 smart water meters in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad by 2029 as part of a broader strategy to improve water management and tackle the province’s declining groundwater reserves.
The initiative was discussed during a meeting chaired by Punjab Housing Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, where officials reviewed available water meter technologies and progress on groundwater recharge projects across the province.
More Than 1.5 Million Meters Needed Across Punjab
Officials from the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) informed the meeting that around 1,509,288 water meters are required across Punjab.
Under the current plan, 150,900 smart meters will be installed in Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi by 2029.
Mengal directed the relevant authorities to accelerate water metering projects in the three major cities and extend similar initiatives to other districts.
Automated Readings to Improve Transparency
The proposed smart metering system will use modern technology to record water consumption automatically.
According to officials, automated readings will reduce the need for staff to manually visit properties and record meter readings. The system is also expected to improve transparency and provide more accurate consumption data.
The government believes digital metering can play an important role in improving water management and encouraging more responsible use of the available water supply.
Groundwater Recharge Projects Underway
The meeting also reviewed ongoing efforts to replenish groundwater reserves in different parts of Punjab.
Officials said work is currently underway on 70 groundwater recharge wells, with 20 of these projects already operational.
In addition, 40 recharge wells are being developed in Lahore, 25 in Multan and five in Faisalabad.
Authorities have set a target of conserving around 11.4 million gallons of water annually through these recharge projects.
Rainwater Harvesting to Be Included
The Housing Secretary instructed officials to expand the groundwater recharge programme and incorporate water metering and rainwater harvesting into Punjab’s wider water management strategy.
The meeting also examined water conservation practices adopted by other countries to identify measures that could be implemented locally.
WASA officials said the government plans to source relatively affordable water meters from countries within the region as it moves ahead with the smart metering programme.
The combined focus on smart metering, groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting is aimed at improving water conservation and supporting more sustainable water management across Punjab.
