“The government wants to ensure provision of safe drinking water to all citizens. For this purpose, Rs12 billion have been allocated for the first phase of the project under which over 1,400 water filtration plants would be set up,” Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday.
He was presiding over a meeting regarding the Saaf Pani Project.
The chief minister said the project was of vital importance as it was directly linked to the health of the people. He said priority was being given to those areas where underground water was of poor quality.
Sharif said arrangements should be made for operating water filtration plants with solar energy and the project should be implemented in a transparent manner.
He said the Saaf Pani Company should be run on the model of Solar Power Company. He said that community participation was important for the success of the project.
The chief minister said an effective monitoring system should be evolved for the implementation of the project.
He said the regulatory model should be finalised by the next meeting and relevant departments should maintain coordination between rural water supply schemes for the Saaf Pani project.
The chief minister directed Punjab Information Technology Board to prepare a digital dashboard regarding water supply schemes so data on water quality could be made available to the public.
The chief minister also set up a committee headed by the minister for housing for fixing priorities with regard to installation of water filtration plants and said that the committee should submit its recommendations soon.
Saaf Pani Company Chairman Mujtaba Jamal and Chief Executive Officer Farasat Iqbal gave a detailed briefing regarding the project.
Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik was also present.
‘Let’s right the wrongs of the past’
Separately on Wednesday, the chief minister said Pakistan Navy was playing an important role for protection of the country’s maritime interests as well as in education and health sectors.
He said the navy had always displayed valour in safeguarding national interests.
Sharif said maritime security was of vital importance and there was a need for promoting research and development in this sector.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the first two-day International Maritime Symposium arranged by Pakistan Navy War College at Naval War Complex, Walton Road.
Chief of Navel Staff Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila and Adviser on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique were also present.
The chief minister said the government wanted to resolve the energy crisis in order facilitate national development. Sharif said the government was collaborating with China in this regard, which had announced a $32-billion investment package for Pakistan.
The chief minister said that good relations with China were vital for a prosperous Pakistan and it was unfortunate that previous governments had not fully benefitted from their Chinese neighbour.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2014.