The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has proposed a project to install up to 1,000 smart water meters as part of a £150,000 GeoSmart Water initiative. According to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan, the project is titled “GeoSmart Water – Integrated GIS and Smart Metering System for Efficient Water Resource Management” and is included in Pakistan's Climate Prosperity Plan.
The initiative aims to reduce water losses, improve revenue collection, and strengthen the digital management of water utilities. The proposal envisages a 12-month pilot program that involves installing between 500 to 1,000 Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled smart water meters. It also includes geographic information system (GIS) mapping, digital billing, and technology-based leak detection.
By reducing non-revenue water, the project intends to enable transparent billing and provide data dashboards for utility management. Under the proposed framework, GIS-based maps would be developed for water infrastructure such as mains, valves, tanks, and connections. Additionally, a cloud-based dashboard would be introduced to monitor water pressure and flow, analyze consumption patterns, and detect potential leakages. The system is intended to support usage-based mobile billing and improve consumer access to billing information.
The document outlines a phased implementation schedule. The early stage of the pilot will begin with baseline assessments, GIS mapping, and procurement. The middle phase will involve meter installation, dashboard commissioning, and staff training. Operational monitoring—including leak detection, billing analysis, and economic validation—is envisaged during months six to twelve.
The project also includes staff training, the preparation of a replication and scale-up guide, and arrangements for maintenance and technical support. According to the document, the KP Climate Change Technical Working Group would serve as the lead coordinating body. The Centre for Revenue Growth and Reforms at IMSciences would provide technical support and assist with project implementation, while local utilities would be responsible for meter operations and service delivery. Technology providers would support IoT connectivity and equipment, while trained utility staff would undertake ongoing maintenance.
The project also envisages economic validation and the development of a replication and scale-up guide to assess its potential expansion beyond the initial pilot.
