The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has recently issued a notice mandating residents of the federal capital to pay taxes for utilizing bore water. This decision comes amidst growing concerns over water scarcity in various parts of Islamabad, prompting more individuals to turn to borewells to meet their water needs. Unlike previous practices where citizens accessed government-owned underground water without charges, the MCI has introduced a tax on the usage of underground water via borewells. According to the new regulations, revised water charges will now be applied based on the horsepower of the boring motor utilized. The MCI’s notification delineates different tax rates for various categories, contingent on factors such as the horsepower of the boring motor and the size of the pipe utilized. For instance, households utilizing a half-horsepower motor with a one-inch pipe will incur a monthly charge of Rs. 1000. Meanwhile, those employing a 2-horsepower motor and a 2-inch pipe will face a monthly fee of Rs. 2,500, while commercial users will be subject to a charge of Rs. 4,000 per month. For domestic users utilizing an 8 to 15-horsepower motor and a 3-inch pipe, the monthly fee will amount to Rs. 10,000. Similarly, commercial users falling within the same category will face a charge of Rs. 15,000 per month. This move by the MCI aims to address the escalating water scarcity issue in Islamabad while also generating revenue to support water management initiatives and infrastructure development.