Timely completion of water supply projects urged

Punjab Communication and Works Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan has urged engineers to ensure timely completion of water supply projects initiated by the federal government.
Addressing a seminar on water-borne diseases under the aegis of the Institution of Engineers of Pakistan, he said water was scarce in many areas while safe drinking water was beyond the reach of 150 million people of the country.
"Many towns and villages still lack adequate sanitation", he said and added that treatment of even domestic sewerage was not available at affordable prices in the country.
The minister said the federal government had allocated huge funds for the safe drinking water project, which was expected to be completed within a period of five years.
Expressing concern over the increase in water-borne diseases, Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan said patients suffering from water-borne diseases occupy almost half of the beds in hospitals.
He also mentioned the recent epidemic-like situation in Ghulam Muhammadabad and said several people were affected in Faisalabad by consuming contaminated water. He said the Punjab government had taken a notice of the situation and directed the concerned departments to replace the old sewer lines immediately.
"The work for replacement of old and redundant pipes is under way and will be completed soon", he added.
The minister said access to improved drinking water was the fundamental right of every individual. He said the government had already evolved a three-pronged policy, including short and long-term measures, to resolve the water crisis.
Under the short-term plan, old and redundant water supply and sewer lines were being replaced, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Parliamentary Environment Secretary Saadia Humayun said the provision of safe drinking water was directly linked to the environment. She said the government was taking appropriate measures to improve the environment.
City District Nazim Rana Zahid Tauseef, in his address, said unplanned industrial growth of Faisalabad had complicated the civic problems and now the government was making collaborated efforts to shift the industries from the urban residential areas.
IEP President Aftab Islam Agha and Secretary General Brigadier Khurshid Ghias (Retd) stressed the need for a central agency for policy planning and extending technical support to tehsil municipal administrations to effectively tackle water related issues.