Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting, here on Saturday, to review the progress of matters regarding the project of supply of clean drinking water to the citizens. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said work had been started on a big programme worth billions of rupees for providing potable water to the people and Punjab government would ensure the right of clean drinking water to the common man under that programme.
He said water was directly linked with human health and clean drinking water was the basic need of every citizen, adding that the programme would also help control diseases caused by polluted water. He said the progrmame was of very importance with regard to public health and Punjab government would ensure provision of clean drinking water to millions of people living in villages.
Shahbaz said a sum of Rs 30 billion had been allocated for Saaf Pani programme in the budget of next financial year, adding that more than 80 filtration plants had been installed in five tehsils of south Punjab under a pilot project. He said that lakhs of people were getting clean drinking water from these water filtration plants daily in Lodhran, Khanpur, Hasilpur, Dunyapur and Minchanabad. He said that besides six districts of south Punjab, Saaf Pani programme would be started on priority basis in those areas where underground water was not suitable for human consumption.
The Chief Minister directed that best companies of the world should be selected in a transparent manner for that programme and rules and regulations should be followed. He said that survey and record of Saaf Pani programme should be computerized. He said immediate steps should be taken for capacity-building of Saaf Pani Company for effective implementation of the project.
Chief Executive Officer Saaf Pani Company gave a briefing on different matters relating to the project. Provincial Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik, Chairman Punjab Saaf Pani Company Kashif Padhiar MPA, Chairman Chief Minister Taskforce on Information & Culture Muhammad Maalik, Engineer Qamar-ul-Islam MPA, Chairman Planning & Development and concerned authorities attended the meeting whereas Secretary Housing participated in the meeting through video link from Commissioner Office Multan.