The Punjab Development Program (PDP) was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique at the Civil Secretariat. Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gul, Secretary Local Government Board Rizwan Naseer, Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi and others also attended the meeting. The meeting gave special consideration to the situation arising from the recent urban flooding in Gujarat and proposed to construct separate sewers and drains in the city. Recalling his recent visits to Gujarat, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique said that there is only one drain for the drainage for the entire city, which is not enough for such a large number of population, so we will have to construct more drains there. He directed that RCC drains be constructed in place of brick drains for better drainage. “Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved a special package for Gujarat, which will upgrade the entire drainage system”, he vowed. Zeeshan Rafique said that initially, schemes will be completed in fifty-two cities of Punjab under the PDP. “This is a mega project, Zeeshan added, “and in the first phase, PC-1 of the schemes has been approved for fifteen cities”. He said that under the PDP, sewage systems and underground water storage tanks will be built in every city so that rainwater can be stored and the risks of urban flooding can also be reduced.
The Minister Local Government said that for effective urban planning, the Punjab government has approved the deployment of 150 fresh graduate engineers in all cities. “One engineer should be posted in cities with a population of one lac while two or three engineers should be deployed in cities with a population of two lac”, urged the minister. He said that solarized disposal stations will be built in every city. Zeeshan Rafique directed that land should be allocated for water treatment plants and the Chairman P&D should be consulted for land acquisition. He said that the experience of Lahore Development Program should be kept in mind for the PDP so that better results can be obtained.
Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian told the meeting that instead of building traditional drains, the needs of each city will be kept in mind. He directed that the drain of Gujrat city should be cleaned continuously. Shakeel Ahmed Mian said that encroachments around the drain of Gujrat will be eliminated to ensure uninterrupted drainage.