Drinking-water policy: Punjab government to take public representatives on board: Advisor

Senior Advisor to Chief Minister, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has said that Punjab's 'Drinking Water Policy' will be finalised after consulting public representatives so that this policy can be formulated in accordance with the ground realities.
He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of members of Punjab assembly to review the proposed Punjab drinking policy. Khosa said that access to safe drinking water is one of the fundamental rights of every citizen and drinking water policy aims to provide a guiding framework in this regard. He informed that a target has been set for attainment of millennium development goals for improved water supply coverage in Punjab. Under this programme, 80 percent of urban and 64.65 percent of rural population will be provided safe drinking water.
He observed that after 18th constitutional amendment in the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, environment department has been devolved upon provinces and Punjab Assembly is 'now competent to legislate on the subject of environment and water'.
Commenting upon the water quality in Punjab, senior advisor to CM emphasised provision of safe drinking water of adequate quantity at an affordable cost through equitable, efficient and sustainable services to all citizens. He revealed that 44 million of total 90 million population in Punjab is consuming bacteria-contaminated water.
Investigations have revealed presence of excessive arsenic contamination in many cities of Punjab including Sheikhupura, Lahore, Kasur, Multan, R.Y.Khan and Bahawalpur. In addition to this, approximately 1,16,013 children under the age of five in Pakistan die each year because of diarrhoea. This translates into 13 children per hour (eight children per hour in Punjab), he added.
Earlier, a high level was also held under the chairmanship of Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa. The meeting approved amendments in acts regarding devolved departments in the light of 18th constitutional amendments of constitution of Pakistan. These acts relate to board of revenue Punjab and labour department. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Punjab, Nasir Mehmood Khosa, Secretary Law, Dr Abu-ul-Hassan Najmi, ACS Sami Saeed, Finance Minister, Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah and other concerned officers.