LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the launch of a major project to construct 358 underground storage tanks across the province for rainwater drainage and groundwater recharge.
The decision was taken during a special video-link meeting chaired by the chief minister to review progress on the Punjab Development Programme, clean water initiatives and the Model Village Project.
The chief minister also conducted a pictorial review of the ongoing projects. Officials briefed the meeting participants that the mega project will be implemented for the first time in Punjab to manage rainwater and improve groundwater levels. Under the plan, 34 large underground storage tanks will be constructed in cities to ensure timely drainage of rainwater, while 324 roadside underground tanks will be built to quickly remove water accumulated on roads.
Recharge wells will also be constructed alongside the underground tanks to improve the underground water table. The stored water will be treated through water treatment plants and reused for irrigation purposes. In addition, 328 wastewater treatment plants will also be established across the province. The meeting was informed that 6,100 kilometres of streets will be paved and 3,498 kilometres of sewerage lines will be laid across various cities. Streetlights will be installed at 14,679 locations, while 33 million square feet of tuff tiles will be laid in streets and pathways. To improve drainage and municipal services, 526 modern machines and tractors will also be provided.
A factory for producing sewerage pipelines with a lifespan of up to 100 years has been installed in Lahore and is expected to begin production soon. Officials further briefed the participants that Punjab Development Programme projects have been initiated in Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, Okara, Jhang, Multan and Sialkot, while projects will soon begin in Jhelum, Hafizabad, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib and Rawalpindi.
Under the Punjab Rural Sanitation Improvement Programme, drainage systems will be developed in rural areas. Development schemes worth Rs59 billion will be implemented in 485 villages under the Model Village Project, while work has already started in 200 villages. Cleaning of wastewater ponds and installation of wastewater treatment plants will also be undertaken, and treated water will be supplied to agricultural fields for irrigation.
The chief minister directed authorities to ensure the functionality of filtration plants for provision of clean drinking water. She also instructed that paved streets in villages should be given priority and that drainage projects must be completed before the monsoon season.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.