Water and Sanitation Agency workers clean a sewerage drain amidst a downpour in Faisalabad. Sanitation and water supply responsibilities in several more cities have been transferred from municipal corporations to WASA. Photo: APP
FAISALABAD:
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Faisalabad has prepared a PC-II project worth Rs141 billion to resolve decades-old sewerage problems across the city in a sustainable manner, in line with climate change targets and the Master Plan prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for 2028.
Managing Director WASA, Saqib Raza, outlined the initiative during a press briefing, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address multi-dimensional issues faced by citizens and water bodies in Faisalabad.
He explained that several unplanned areas of the city lack proper sewerage networks, resulting in wastewater accumulation in open plots.
Over time, this wastewater seeped into the ground, disturbing soil structure and contaminating groundwater.
To tackle this, WASA has begun emptying these ponds by installing dewatering sets and diverting the wastewater to the nearest sewerage network or disposal points.
Raza said this step would prevent excessive seepage while the long-term solution remains the installation of comprehensive sewerage systems across the city.
The initiative is part of the Punjab Development Package, which focuses on improving existing sewerage networks, though many peripheral areas had remained uncovered until now.
The MD said the new PC-II project aims to extend the sewerage service network up to the city bypass, with preliminary calculations estimating the total cost at approximately Rs141 billion.
The project builds on the previously prepared master plan and is expected to eliminate sewage ponds and provide residents with improved sewerage facilities.
He emphasised that the project also takes into account heavy rainfall, citing last year’s 300 mm rainfall, and noted that recharge wells are being constructed to manage excess water.
Three recharge wells have been completed and 10 more are under construction, with a target of 13 to 15 wells using WASA’s own resources.
Raza highlighted foreign-funded projects, including World Bank-supported Surface Water Treatment and Wastewater Treatment Plants, which aim to treat water for irrigation purposes.
“This initiative is a model for water conservation and environmental protection because untreated wastewater will no longer flow into the Ravi River, thereby protecting the ecosystem and providing treated water for farmers,” he said.
He stressed that WASA now plays a leading role in climate change efforts and urban water management, with development packages of Rs10.5 billion and Rs12.5 billion already allocated, and additional PC-II proposals in preparation.
