LAHORE: In a bid to ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water, the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority has announced a major operational upgrade, including the deployment of a 100-motorcycle monitoring squad and an enhanced geo-tagged complaint system.
Presiding over a review meeting on Wednesday, Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin declared clean water an absolute basic right and directed officials to expedite water filtration projects in underdeveloped areas on a priority basis.
The meeting reviewed the operational status and performance of water filtration plants throughout the province and discussed the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority’s future strategy and expansion plans.
During the briefing, Punjab Saaf Pani Authority CEO Captain Syed Ali Asghar (R) informed the meeting that immediate action would be taken on complaints received through Helpline 1336. He further stated that monitoring through geo-tagging, along with photographic evidence, would also be ensured.
The Minister directed the Authority to further strengthen the laboratory testing system for assessing water quality. He emphasised that projects aimed at providing clean drinking water in remote and underdeveloped areas should be completed on a priority basis. He stated that the provision of clean and safe drinking water to citizens is among the government’s top priorities. He further remarked that access to clean water is a basic right of every citizen and that no negligence in this regard will be tolerated.
Meanwhile, in a separate meeting, the Minister also reviewed the progress of 161 infrastructure project sites across 15 districts, demanding timely completion and uncompromised quality.
Speaking at a Punjab Development Plan review meeting, the Minister ordered authorities to immediately iron out execution bottlenecks and deploy strict measures to shield citizens from unnecessary public inconvenience during construction.
Through a video link, the Minister inquired from the relevant field teams about the pace of construction activities and the quality of work being carried out at 161 project sites. WASA Punjab Director General Tayyab Fareed and the project director briefed the meeting on the progress achieved against the assigned targets and the current status of the projects.
On this occasion, Yasin stated that obstacles and challenges hindering development schemes should be identified and resolved immediately. He emphasised that all possible resources must be utilised to ensure the quality, transparency, and sustainability of the projects. He further stated that greater momentum would be given to development initiatives in the next fiscal year to provide improved urban facilities to the public. He also directed that public inconvenience during the execution of development projects should be kept to a minimum and that alternative arrangements should be ensured wherever necessary.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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