The Punjab government plans to install wastewater treatment plants in every city across the province as part of a comprehensive strategy to modernize water supply and sanitation infrastructure, Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said during the provincial assembly’s budget session on Monday.
Addressing lawmakers, Aurangzeb congratulated the Speaker and the government on the passage of the provincial budget and praised the development agenda being pursued under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
She said the provincial government had launched a large-scale programme to replace underground water supply and sewerage pipelines that are between 70 and 75 years old.
According to the minister, work is currently underway in 84 cities, where authorities are upgrading underground sewerage systems, constructing underground water storage tanks, and installing recharge wells to help restore groundwater reserves.
Aurangzeb said Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASA) are now operational in 41 districts across Punjab, while more than 1,500 machines have been supplied to local government institutions to strengthen municipal services and improve sanitation operations.
She added that water resource mapping had been completed in Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, and adjoining areas, where clean drinking water projects worth Rs42 billion are currently being implemented.
The senior minister said that 5,800 water filtration plants are providing clean drinking water to communities throughout the province.
Aurangzeb also announced that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is expected to inaugurate the Sargodha Cardiology Hospital during the first week of July.
She said the hospital had been completed on schedule, with both construction work and the installation of medical equipment finalized within the stipulated timeline.