Punjab Orders Sewerage Projects Completion by June

LAHORE: (Web Desk) – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed authorities to complete all ongoing sewerage and drainage development projects across the province by June 30, 2026, without delay.

Chairing a high-level meeting in Lahore on Saturday, the chief minister said that around Rs80 billion had been saved through e-tendering under the Punjab Development Programme, calling it a major step toward financial transparency and efficiency.

She emphasized that public safety and responsible use of taxpayers’ money remain the government’s top priorities. The chief minister also ordered a complete ban on leaving roads and streets dug up with open pits in all cities, including Lahore, due to public inconvenience.

Officials briefed the meeting that geo-tagging of over 838,000 manholes has been completed, while extensive de-silting work has been carried out across 41 cities. A total of 550 tons of silt and slurry have been removed from sewer lines and drainage channels.

The meeting was informed that 110 underground sewerage tanks with a combined capacity of 24.5 million gallons have been completed. Additionally, around 200,000 manholes in urban areas have been covered.

Authorities also highlighted the deployment of machinery, including jetting units, suction machines, and de-watering equipment to improve maintenance operations across Punjab.

Officials further stated that a 198-kilometre drainage system has been completed, while cleaning work on 3,497 kilometres of sewer lines has also been finalized.

The Punjab Development Programme (PDP), worth Rs204 billion, is currently progressing in phases. Phase I is reported to be 57 percent complete, covering cities such as Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, Okara, Jhang, Multan, and Sialkot. Phase II includes districts like Jhelum, Hafizabad, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and Rawalpindi.