In a landmark infrastructure commitment, the Punjab government has declared its intention to establish wastewater treatment plants in every urban center across the province. The announcement signals a major escalation in the state’s drive to overhaul its aging water and sanitation systems.
Modernizing Decades-Old Infrastructure
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb detailed the ambitious strategy during the Punjab Assembly’s budget session, framing it as a cornerstone of the administration’s development agenda under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The government is simultaneously executing a massive project to replace underground water supply and sewerage lines, some of which are 70 to 75 years old.
“Work is currently underway in 84 cities,” Aurangzeb stated, outlining a multi-pronged approach that includes upgrading subterranean sewerage networks, constructing underground storage tanks, and installing recharge wells to replenish depleted groundwater reserves.
Expanding Access and Service Delivery
The minister provided a detailed snapshot of the province’s expanding municipal services. Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASA) are now functional in 41 districts. To bolster local government capacity, more than 1,500 machines have been distributed to various institutions.
Aurangzeb highlighted that water mapping has been completed in Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, and adjacent areas, where clean water projects valued at Rs42 billion are currently in progress. Furthermore, 5,800 water filtration plants are already supplying clean drinking water to communities throughout the province.
Rural Transformation and Healthcare Milestones
The infrastructure push extends to rural areas through a model villages programme targeting 2,400 villages. Residents will receive water supply, sewerage, and sanitation infrastructure “without discrimination,” the minister affirmed.
On the healthcare front, Aurangzeb announced that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is expected to inaugurate the Sargodha Cardiology Hospital during the first week of July, noting that construction and medical equipment installation were completed on schedule.
A Direct Challenge to Predecessors
In a sharp critique of the opposition, Aurangzeb challenged detractors to identify a single wastewater treatment plant established during their tenure. She reiterated that the current government’s commitment is unequivocal: to install treatment facilities in every city, marking a definitive break from past practices in environmental and public health management.
