Ecnec approves PICIIP worth $250 million

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Programme (PICIIP) worth over US $250 million which aims to provide efficient urban services in cities. The meeting approved the PICIIP in Sahiwal and Sialkot districts at a total rationalized cost of Rs 26.325 billion in line with Punjab government's commitment to provide efficient urban services in cities and to support the local governments in improving their financial and institutional capacity for effective and efficient delivery of various municipal services.
PICIIP Program Director Kaiser Saleem disclosed this here on Tuesday. He said the government has taken this initiative to provide safer, efficient and sustainable urban infrastructure through transport, solid waste, waste water and drainage solutions to the people of Sahiwal and Sialkot, and important steps are being taken for the urban development of intermediate cities.
"The current situation poses various challenges due to inadequate infrastructural capacities to meet the needs of an ever-increasing urban population in the intermediate cities. Urban development and economic growth of such cities is linked to the success of PICIIP project in Sahiwal and Sialkot. Considering the importance of PICIIP, the local authorities and the people of Sahiwal and Sialkot are needed to come forward and support the implementation of this project which will be launched with full public and local authorities' support and is expected to benefit millions of people there," he added.
He further said that the scope of the project includes installation of centralized sewerage treatment plant and rehabilitation of disposal stations, replacement of sewer pipes, provision of missing equipments for sewage water management and unblocking of local drains through rehabilitation of parks and green belts, improvement of major streets, footpaths and bus terminals, installment of water reservoirs, water pipes, water meters, pressure gauges, boreholes, water transfer stations, rehabilitation of tube wells, turbine pumps and motors.