CM chairs meeting on clean water project

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that “Saaf Pani Project” is of utmost importance for protecting the people from diseases. He said that no negligence, delay and wastage of time in the project will be tolerated. He said that provision of potable water to the citizens is responsibility of the government. He reiterated that the promise of providing clean drinking water to every house of the province will be fulfilled.

The Chief Minister said that the project is being launched immediately in nine districts of more brackish water of the province under “Saaf Pani Project” which will be expanded to all districts of the province under a phased programme. He said that ten billion rupees are being spent on this public welfare project during first year. He said that under this project, water filtration plants would be installed for providing clean drinking water to the citizens.

He was presiding over a high level meeting with regard to reviewing the progress on “Saaf Pani Project”, here today. Provincial Minister for Housing and Public Health Tanvir Aslam Malik, Advisor on Economic Affairs Dr. Ijaz Nabi, Members National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Chaudhary Jaafar Iqbal, Tahir Iqbal Chaudhary, Member Provincial Assembly Waheed Gul, former Member National Assembly Chaudhary Saud Majeed, former MPA Samiullah Chaudhary, Chairman Planning & Development, secretaries of concerned departments and officials of NESPAK were present on the occasion.

Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that “Saaf Pani Project” will be implemented speedily and like other projects of Punjab government, this project will be a unique with regard to speed and transparency. He said that “Saaf Pani Project” is being started in more saline water districts including Mianwali, Sargodha, Chakwal, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan and will be expanded to the entire Punjab. The Chief Minister said that provision of clean drinking water to every house of the province is mission of the government which will be accomplished at every cost.

The Chief Minister while constituting a steering committee comprising Provincial Minister for Housing, Assembly Members and officials of Punjab government said that this steering committee will monitor the implementation on this project. He directed that the companies of good repute should be contacted for water filtration plants and these companies should also consider setting up of assembling plants in Punjab. He said that the condition of third party certification is also compulsory for this project.

Shahbaz Sharif directed that the survey with regard to water in all districts of the province should be completed at the earliest and reliable information be collected.

Earlier, Secretary Housing, Waseem Mukhtar gave a briefing about the progress on “Saaf Pani Project”. Participants of the meeting gave their proposals about implementation of the project.