Punjab Delivers 272 Modern Sewerage Machines to WASA Across 15 Districts

LAHORE: The Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz officially handed over 272 up-to-date drainage and sewerage machinery to WASA in 15 districts of Punjab province, while another 696 pieces of machinery and other items are being supplied for all the 41 districts under the operation of WASA. This improvement in sewerage machinery by Punjab WASA shows that the investment in infrastructure in secondary cities has increased considerably compared to Lahore.

“Ease and convenience for every citizen in every city is our aim. Development is not limited only to Lahore; it is for the whole province.”
CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif

What Was Provided — 12 Types of Sewerage Machines

The range of Punjab WASA sewerage machines drainage improvement machinery covers the whole process of sewerage operations, starting from normal cleaning and desilting and extending to monsoon dewatering and repairs of sewerage structures.

WASA Grows from 2 to 41 Districts – A Landmark Milestone

The upgrade and delivery of the machinery and drainage facilities for WASA in Punjab takes place against the backdrop of what the Chief Minister terms as one of the most important institutional expansions in the province. WASA has grown from covering only 2 districts to 41 districts in Punjab.

With this extension, the WASA is converted from being an entity that caters only to the needs of Lahore to an organization that truly operates provincially. The secondary cities such as Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, and many other district capitals are now governed by a formal sewerage authority that has machinery for its operation.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Defies Convention to Reach out to Workers

In the Punjab WASA sewerage machinery drainage upgradation inauguration ceremony, there was one event which defied convention. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz defied the convention of being surrounded by the security barrier and reached out to the workers of WASA who were present on the occasion and took a picture with them and appreciated their hard work.

It is not an act that was symbolic only. The sewerage and drainage workers form part of those who are least valued of all the municipal workers in Pakistan, doing hard labor that is dangerous but necessary for the smooth running of the city, especially during the monsoon season. The interaction of the CM with such workers is a strong signal of what the government thinks of municipal services.

Phase Two – 696 Machines in All 41 Districts

The 272 machines supplied in the first phase are just the initial part of the Punjab WASA Sewerage Machinery Drainage Upgrading Program. The process of supplying 696 machines and other related items to the WASA authority in all 41 districts has been initiated – that is, in total there will be almost 1,000 machines of advanced sewerage and drainage systems provided under this program.

When completed, the Punjab WASA sewerage machinery drainage upgrade will have provided all WASA districts with the capabilities required to handle sewerage, drainage, and floods without the equipment shortage issues which have been a long-term issue for workers who have had to cope with infrastructure emergencies lacking equipment.

The Provincial Minister for Housing, Bilal Yasin, and the Secretary for Housing, Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, informed the CM about the scheme, which is aimed at developing better drainage system facilities and better sewerage facilities to develop a good urban infrastructure of Punjab.

Relevance of Monsoon Timing Cannot Be Underestimated

The installation of advanced sewerage machinery for drainage by Punjab WASA corresponds with the time of monsoon season in Pakistan, during which sewerage and drainage system experience maximum pressure. The use of advance equipment such as desilting machines, sewer jetting machines, dewatering pumps and sewer suction machines prior to the monsoon season equips the operations of Punjab district WASA to deal with drainage crises.

For the citizens in 15 districts who will get the newly introduced machinery this week – and for 41 districts in total who will be included in the program – the arrival of Punjab WASA’s drainage machinery for sewerage is one of the most effective means of monsoon preparedness provided by the provincial government.