The Japan government is considering to provide Rs 580 million to Wasa's Project Management Unit (PMU) for improving sewerage system in the city. According to PMU spokesman, this amount would be spent to replace 16 old sewage pumps with heavy ones in three zones including Shad Bagh, Gulshan-e-Ravi and Multan road.
He said the Japanese government would release the amount in a couple of months as its team of experts is coming to Pakistan in February to examine the project's details. He said PMU had launched a Rs 789 million mega project in January 2006 with the assistance of Japanese government that also provided modern machines for desilting and transportation purpose.
To further improve the performance of the sewerage system, he said the PMU had proposed a Rs 580 million project to the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) to replace at least 16 old pumps that were installed in 1982 and now have outlived their life.
He said the CDWP later approved the PMU's project estimate and forwarded it to the Japanese government that is presently examining the details. He said according to the proposal, four new heavy pumps each in Shad Bagh and Multan Road would be installed while the remaining eight pumps would be replaced in Gulshan Ravi area. The PMU staff is regularly desilting 200 tons waste daily from the open drains and sewerage pipes round the clock in two shifts, he added.