People to get clean water by 2017: CM

LAHORE
CHIEF MINISTER Shahbaz Sharif has said that Saaf Pani Project is being launched with billions of rupees for the provision of potable water to the people of the province.
He said that under this project, 2017 had been fixed as the target of provision of clean water to the majority of the population of Punjab. He said initially 307 water filtration plants would be set up in Lahore, Kasur, Okara and Bahawalpur and its scope would be expanded to the whole province under a phased programme. People have right over the resources of the province and the Punjab government is returning their right by launching welfare schemes like Saaf Pani Project, he added.
He was presiding over a high-level meeting to review the progress on Punjab Saaf Pani Project, here, Friday. The meeting approved a third party audit of rural water supply schemes and conditional approval to restoration of closed water supply schemes in riverine and water-logged areas. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said project was of paramount importance and directly linked to public health. He approved third party audit of rural water supply schemes and directed to complete the audit on war-footing basis. He said third party audit should compulsorily be conducted for starting rehabilitation programme of water supply schemes and a report be submitted to him.
He said community organisations should be made vibrant in connection with rural water supply scheme and their positive role should be ensured. He directed secretary housing to evolve a comprehensive plan for the restoration of rural water supply schemes. He directed that geo tagging of all areas of Punjab regarding the project should be carried out. He said the process of geo tagging would help to assess potable water in every area of Punjab. He said water facilitation centres would be set up under Punjab Saaf Pani Project and solar panels would be installed for operating water filtration plants. He said the project was being started with billions of rupees for the people and special attention should be paid to the quality during its implementation. He directed that this project should be implemented speedily and all the departments concerned should work in a coordinated manner.
Minister, MPs: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq, MNAs and MPAs belonging to various districts called on Shahbaz Sharif, here Friday and congratulated Chief Minister on PML-N’s clean sweep in Senate elections in Punjab.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said National Action Plan against terrorism was a voice of the whole nation. He said the nation had decided to defeat the terrorists and national action plan would prove to be result-oriented for curbing terror.
Shahbaz Sharif said PML-N had achieved a splendid victory in Senate elections. Those who called on him included MNA Syed Saqlain Shah Bukhari, Raja Ijaz Ahmad Noon, Sheikh Allauddin, Parliamentary Secretary for Information Rana Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Shahwaiz Khan, Syed Tariq Yaqub and Haji Imran Zaffar.
Qaim: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah called on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here, Friday and discussed matters of mutual interest and situation of the country.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah congratulated Shahbaz Sharif on splendid holding of horse and cattle show.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said all the four provinces and federal government were marching forward with complete harmony in the war on terror.
The holding of horse and cattle show, the culture of Punjab is being highlighted besides promoting national solidarity and brotherhood. He welcomed Sindh Chief Minister in horse and cattle show and said that it would increase inter-provincial harmony.
He said the decisions taken with collective wisdom and joint efforts would bear fruit and Pakistan would become a haven of peace.