‘Concrete protection liners to be used for sewer lines’

LAHORE:Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq has said it has been decided to lay concrete protection liner for sewer lines for the first time in small and big cities for smooth functioning of sewer.

Pipeline of at least 30 inches will help resolve frequent complaints of sewer blockages. The provincial minister was presiding over a meeting held at the Punjab Civil Secretariat. Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gul and Additional Secretary Development Ahmer Kaifi attended the meeting while Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz briefed the meeting on progress on Chief Minister’s Cities Development Programme.

Zeeshan Rafiq said that internationally renowned companies manufacturing concrete protection liners should transfer their technology to Pakistan.

“The entire country along with Punjab will benefit from the development of large sewer pipelines in Pakistan. The relevant companies will be invited to set up concrete liner plants in Punjab”, he urged. Zeeshan Rafiq said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered solving the municipal problems of 169 cities. “For the first time, a rainwater storage and sewage bypass plan is being prepared for each city. Due to the bypass system, the polluted sewage water will not mix with the groundwater”, he added. He directed PMDFC to remove technical shortcomings within 2 days in the presentation saying that PC-1 of 59 cities should be completed by May next month.

“State-of-the-art schemes will be laid in the remaining 110 cities soon”, he pledged. The minister expressed his determination that the municipal needs of all cities would be met for the next 50 years. “Rehabilitation of streets, solarisation of drainage system and preparation of green areas are also part of this project”, he said.

He hoped that with the cooperation of the World Bank, a beautiful face of Punjab will emerge with the completion of this mega project. On this occasion, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian directed that the life of each sewer should be from 50 to 100 years. “Special care should be taken that the sewer lines that are laid should not be affected by any other scheme in the future”, he urged.

Shakeel Ahmed pointed out that the major problem of cities is the poor sewer system and that is our focus. “We will ensure the completion of all schemes within the timeframe set by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz”, he vowed.