LAHORE, Aug 17 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday chaired the fifth consecutive review

meeting on the provision of clean drinking water, directing the authorities to expedite water

supply projects across the province and ensure reliable access to safe drinking water in

water-scarce areas.

The meeting reviewed ongoing and proposed drinking water schemes in Chakwal, Rawalpindi,

Rajanpur, Faisalabad, Murree and Attock, with a special focus on improving water availability

in underserved communities. It agreed in principle to accord top priority to the provision of

clean drinking water to eight water-deficient villages in Chakwal.

The participants also considered a proposal to launch pilot water supply projects in Rajanpur,

Jampur, Chak Shigari and Dajal. The meeting approved, in principle, a pilot scheme for supplying

clean drinking water to Chak Jhumra and suburban areas of Faisalabad.

Chairing the meeting, the chief minister directed the authorities to prepare and verify authentic

data on water requirements in accordance with population figures to ensure effective planning

and equitable distribution of resources. She also ordered the immediate provision of 21 water

bowsers in Rajanpur to address the immediate needs of residents and directed the authorities

to accelerate beautification and other development projects in Rojhan.

For Murree, the chief minister ordered the provision of additional water storage tanks to improve

the supply of drinking water and directed the authorities concerned to initiate work on developing

a new water source for the hill station to meet growing demand.

The Punjab Clean Water Authority and deputy commissioners gave detailed briefings on the

prevailing water supply situation, progress on filtration plants and the implementation status

of ongoing projects in their respective districts.

The meeting was informed that Chakwal currently has 32 functional water filtration plants,

while 237 more were under construction. Development work on 15 model villages was also

underway in the district.

In Rawalpindi, 246 filtration plants were operational and 252 additional plants were planned. Attock

had 77 operational filtration plants, 399 under completion, while nine model villages are planned.

In Rajanpur, 146 filtration plants were functional and 191 were under construction, while development

of 12 model villages was also planned.

The meeting was further informed that Murree had five operational filtration plants, with 90 more

under construction, whereas Faisalabad had 343 functional filtration plants, four surface water

treatment plants and 180 additional filtration plants under construction.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reiterated that ensuring access

to clean drinking water remained one of her government’s foremost priorities. “We will not rest

until clean drinking water is available at the doorsteps of the people of Punjab,” she said.

The CM said that areas where people were still forced to carry water over long distances had

been placed among the government’s highest priorities. “I consider the provision of clean drinking

water across Punjab my responsibility because serving the people is my duty,” she added.

CM orders immediate steps to improve drinking water supply in Punjab