Punjab govt gives WASA Rs300m bailout package

RAWALPINDI: Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has been given a bailout package worth Rs300 million by the Punjab government. This came as a relief for WASA officers who have been stuck in a severe financial crisis since past 10 years.

Another Rs10 million will be given for cleaning Nullah Lai. Verifying the news, WASA Chairman Arif Abbasi told The Express Tribune that Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar during his Rawalpindi visit approved the agency’s wish for bailout package.

With the bailout package, WASA will now be able to ensure the payment of electricity bills and machines, motors for 24/7 water supply. The dysfunctional motor of 460 tube wells will also be changed immediately and work will be done to keep the water supply active during Ramazan and summer season.

WASA since past many years had been investing efforts for a bailout package. However, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government rejected all summaries sent by WASA. The incumbent Punjab CM has directed that WASA should now improve its situation.

Meanwhile, WASA Managing Director Mohammad Tanveer has initiated a major crackdown against water thieves during which, 500 water thieves have been apprehended thus far, with penalties their water connections are being regularised too

Moreover, a major crackdown against water theft will also be carried out in the summer.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2019.