Mardan city facelift to boost quality of life

Sewage treatment plant and solid waste landfill site are nearing completion

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP) is poised to significantly enhance the quality of life in urban centers across the province upon its successful completion. Targeting five key cities in K-P, this initiative is expected to positively impact 3.5 million residents.

In a meeting chaired by Commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, discussions centered around the progress of various projects under KPCIP in Mardan. Attendees included Deputy Commissioner Captain (retired) Abdur Rehman, WSCCM General Manager Mohammad Khalil Akbar, Project Chief Engineer Mohammad Khalil Akbar, Executive Engineer C&W Naqib Khattak, XEN Irrigation Ahmed, as well as representatives from SNGPL and Public Health.

The briefing unveiled the ongoing construction of a sewage treatment plant and a solid waste landfill site in Mardan, amounting to a cost of Rs8.5 billion.

This infrastructure development is expected to catapult Mardan into a more advanced state, allowing for the treatment of wastewater for reuse in irrigation and other purposes.

Specifically, the sewage treatment plant, catering to the six union councils of Mardan, is progressing rapidly. Once completed, it will render the wastewater from Guli Bagh, Roryia, Muslimabad, Hoti, Bari Cham, and Bukit Ganj reusable. The plant aims to treat six million gallons of sewage water daily from these union councils.

Commissioner Yousafzai emphasized the significance of the project, noting that its completion will usher in innovation and improvement in sanitation services for Mardan’s residents.

Under the KPCIP, a comprehensive waste management system will be implemented, collecting waste from households for reuse and ensuring safe disposal of non-usable waste.

Yousafzai pledged full support to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and WSSCM for the project’s completion, underscoring the importance of coordination with all stakeholders in Mardan.

He stressed a commitment to maintaining high-quality standards, given the substantial national funds invested in the project, and instructed WSSCM to further enhance the sanitation system in Mardan city.

In December 2021, the Asian Development Bank approved $385 million in financing for the KPCIP, focusing on enhancing livability and community health in Abbottabad, Kohat, Mardan, Mingora, and Peshawar.

The project includes the construction of clean water supply treatment facilities, sewerage treatment facilities, and the rehabilitation of dysfunctional tube wells.

The anticipated benefits encompass improved access to clean water, reliable waste management, green urban spaces, and gender-friendly facilities for over 3.5 million people. Approximately 150,000 households will gain new water supply connections, with smart water meters installed in their homes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2023.