7.5k model villages to be developed

Punjab CM orders cleaning of wastewater ponds

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a plan to transform 7,500 settlements into model villages in the second phase of an initiative.

During a briefing, she directed authorities to present timelines for the completion of model village projects and submit comparative videos of each village.

A target was set to clean wastewater ponds in villages by June 30, while a helpline (1336) has been established for the immediate resolution of faults in water filtration plants. The chief minister ordered the early completion of bottling plants in Khushab and Chishtian and said a cluster-based water supply scheme in Rajanpur should be completed by May 15.

She ordered that malfunctioning water filtration plants be repaired without delay, emphasising that the provision of clean drinking water must be ensured on a priority basis in the most polluted and underdeveloped areas. "Negligence in the repair and restoration of water filtration plants for the provision of clean drinking water will not be tolerated. Access to clean drinking water is the right of every citizen of Punjab," the chief minister said.

She was informed that work on developing 485 model villages was progressing rapidly, with an estimated cost exceeding Rs59 billion for the completion of Phase I. Each village wil have water supply systems, solar-powered tube wells, drainage facilities and cleaned wastewater ponds.

The chief minister has also set a deadline of August 31 for building septic tanks for natural water in villages. After desilting, the water from the tanks will be reused for irrigation. Separately, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the death of twin brothers by drowning in a pond on the outskirts of Gujranwala.