LAHORE: Punjab government has intensified drainage operations across the province amid continuing monsoon rains, deploying advanced machinery and AI-assisted monitoring systems to ensure the timely removal of rainwater, according to an official handout issued on Sunday.
The handout said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision and confidence had led to improved drainage operations in Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) districts through the induction of modern machinery. More than 1,000 machines and thousands of WASA workers are engaged in field operations across the province.
On the chief minister’s directions, the accumulation of rainwater is being monitored digitally through 300 modern cameras. An AI-based system linked with the Punjab Safe Cities Authority is also being used to identify stagnant rainwater.
The chief minister was overseeing coordinated efforts involving the district administration, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Rescue 1122 and WASA. The underpasses in Lahore and other cities were being monitored round the clock through a digital surveillance system during rainfall.
Field operations in WASA districts are continuing without interruption, with WASA teams remaining engaged throughout the prolonged monsoon spell. Workers equipped with dewatering sets, sucker machines and other drainage equipment are carrying out operations, while monsoon emergency relief camps have been established in every city.
According to the handout, WASA teams are actively engaged in drainage operations in Lahore, Attock, Chakwal, Murree, Taunsa, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Narowal, Bhakkar, Layyah, Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Sargodha, Nankana Sahib, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Khushab, Chiniot, Lodhran, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Pak Pattan, Hafizabad and Rahim Yar Khan.
The handout further said that on the chief minister’s directives, 400 kilometres of sewerage lines, more than 700 kilometres of drains and over 225,000 manholes had been cleaned, with positive results beginning to emerge.
It said newly established WASA districts had been provided with dewatering sets, sucker machines, sewer jetting machines, wheel excavators, sewer de-silting machines, water bowsers and cranes. A centralised dashboard has also been made fully operational, while rainfall data is being compiled through 134 rain gauges.
The residents from various districts were giving positive feedback, with citizens in Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore and Rawalpindi expressing appreciation after witnessing drainage work that previously took weeks being completed within hours.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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