President General Pervez Musharraf has directed accelerating setting up of drinking water purification plants in the country as it would not only result in prevention of a number of water-borne diseases but also provide good healthy environment along with reducing the cost of health care.
The president made these observations on Friday while chairing a meeting, attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, which reviewed progress in provision of safe drinking water and electricity to every citizen of the country.
Federal Minister for Environment, Major Tahir Iqbal (Retd) informed that the government had embarked upon a special plan to involve the private sector, provincial and district governments in this initiative.
It was also briefed that in line with the president's directive, emphasis is being laid on removing the existing inequalities in the provision of safe drinking water and effectively redressing the needs of more vulnerable and poor sections of the society.
Likewise, incorporation of NGOs, community organisations, particularly women, in the project has been ensured as their participation would play a crucial role in the realisation of the government objectives.
The president also directed that a realistic framework for community participation be developed for ensuring their effective role in scheme identification and its implementation. He also instructed for doing appropriate legislation and its adequate enforcement.
Later, Minister for Water & Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi and Wapda Chairman Tariq Hameed briefed the participants about the implementation status of rural electrification in the country.
They informed the meeting that the electrification process was on track and villages both large and small (13,000 in number), being electrified this year, were more than ever before in the history of the country.
The president and prime minister appreciated the work being done by Wapda with regard to the electrification programme and expressed the hope that it would meet all its targets within the given time-frame.
The meeting was also attended by Minister for Science and Technology Nouraiz Shakoor, Minister of State for Water and Power Engineer Amir Muqam and senior officials.