Saaf Pani: Access to potable water a basic right, says Shahbaz

CM says providing people with potable water a basic responsibility of the state.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday that public health was inextricably linked with the provision of potable water.

He was chairing a meeting convened to review progress on the Saaf Pani Project. Sharif said providing the people with clean drinking water was a primary responsibility of the state. The chief minister said the government was committed to effectively discharging its responsibility in this regard. Sharif said access to clean drinking water was a basic right of every citizen. He said the government was spending billions of rupees on the project and would ensure that everyone had access to potable water. The chief minister said the project would be quickly completed.



Sharif said filtration plants would be set up across the Punjab under the project. He said access to clean drinking water was inextricably linked with public health and the government was committed to providing the people with quality medical facilities. Sharif said the project would cover 18 districts of the Punjab in its initial stage. He said scope of the project would be extended to cover the entire province in phases.

He said Saaf Paani Sahulat Centres would also be set-up under the project. The chief minister said local youth would be provided with jobs at these centres. The Saaf Paani Company chief executive officer (CEO) briefed those present on the project’s features.

Housing Minister Tanvir Aslam Malik and Provincial Assembly Member (MPA) Ayesha Ghaus Pasha were also present in the meeting.

Shahbaz calls on President Ghani

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday called on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Islamabad.

Various topics of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting. Sharif said there was great potential in increasing bilateral trade between the two countries. He stressed the need for enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The chief minister said it was crucial for Pakistan and Afghanistan to cooperate to eradicate religious extremism and terrorism. He said the two states would have to overcome the security challenges confronting them in concert to promote trade and commerce in the region. Sharif said this was imperative to ensure that the benefit of these developments could reach the people. He said the commercial, education, health and services was brimming with opportunities that should be jointly harnessed by the Punjab and Kabul. The chief minister said President Ghani’s visit marked a watershed in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and bode well for increased bilateral cooperation.

President Ghani said he was pleased to visit Pakistan. He said peace in either of the countries was a prerequisite for stability in the other country. Ghani said Lahore and Kabul should be declared twin cities. He also invited the chief minister to visit Kabul. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif accepted the invitation saying that he would be leading a trade delegation to the city in the near future.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatmi and Law Minister Shuja Khanzada were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2014.