Machinery deployed to bolster monsoon preparedness
Under an urban regeneration project, the Metropolitan Corporation (MC) Faisalabad has launched a comprehensive plan to revive the colonial-era eight bazaars surrounding the historic Clock Tower, a landmark of the city popularly known as the Manchester of Pakistan. Photo: Express
The Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority (PWASA) says it has strengthened its monsoon preparedness through large-scale desilting operations, deployment of new machinery and the establishment of a central command and control system to improve urban flood management across the province.
Speaking to media persons, PWASA Director General Tayyab Fareed said the authority had removed approximately 650,000 tonnes of solid waste, completed desilting of drains, sewer lines and manholes, and established a state-of-the-art Central Command and Control Room equipped with 13 digital dashboards to monitor the situation across Punjab during the ongoing monsoon season.
He said the Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority was established under the Punjab Water and Sanitation Act in June 2024, initially taking over the province's five existing Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASAs).
Under a phased expansion directed by the Punjab government, the authority has since established 41 WASAs at district headquarters across the province.
Fareed said the current monsoon season began about two weeks later than usual, with several spells of heavy rainfall recorded during the second half of July, particularly in central and northern Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Okara and Nankana Sahib.
The PWASA chief said a 45-day province-wide desilting campaign was completed ahead of the monsoon, with daily activities digitally mapped to improve monitoring and accountability.
He said the Punjab government had allocated significant development funding to strengthen sanitation infrastructure.
Machinery worth Rs6.5 billion has been procured for 15 major cities, while another Rs7.5 billion has been allocated to equip smaller WASAs established under the third phase of expansion.
In total, around 950 machinery units have been planned for deployment across the province, including dewatering pumps, cranes, tractor-trolleys, backhoe loaders and other specialised equipment.
More than 300 units have already been dispatched to field formations, he added.
Fareed said the central control room receives real-time information from across the province and coordinates responses with field teams.
He added that PWASA was also working in coordination with the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, Rescue 1122 and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to improve emergency response during heavy rainfall.
Highlighting long-term infrastructure projects, he said Lahore's proposed wastewater treatment project carries an estimated cost of Rs55 billion, while a separate surface water supply project of similar value aims to reduce dependence on groundwater by drawing and treating water from the BRB Canal before supplying it to residents.
Under the plan, wastewater would also be treated before being discharged back into the canal.
Fareed further said PWASA has constructed 18 underground water storage tanks in Lahore and another 10 tanks in cities including Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Okara and Sahiwal under the Punjab Development Programme.
He said the tanks are currently being used to collect rainwater during the monsoon. Once rainfall subsides, the stored water is pumped out to prepare the facilities for subsequent rain spells.