LAHORE: Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin expressed serious concern and anger over recent incidents involving children falling into manholes.
During a Punjab Development Plan (PDP) performance review meeting held via video link on Saturday, the Minister issued a stern warning to officials regarding negligence and safety lapses.
During the meeting, he directed all WASA Managing Directors across the province to submit reports on hazardous manholes and recommendations for addressing the issue. He emphasised that the ongoing desilting campaign would continue ahead of the monsoon season and instructed all districts to remain fully prepared for emergencies.
He issued a final warning to officials to improve the monitoring mechanism, stating that responsible officers would not be forgiven in cases of negligence. He noted that changing climate patterns could lead to increased rainfall and announced that additional machinery would soon be provided to strengthen preparedness.
Yasin also directed the WASA Punjab Director General to maintain a pool of additional machinery that could be deployed immediately to any district facing an emergency.
The minister further made it clear that no negligence would be tolerated in achieving the current fiscal year’s targets under the Punjab Development Plan. He instructed that all arrangements, including drainage and water disposal measures along Muharram-ul-Haram procession routes, must be finalised by tomorrow.
He reiterated that addressing public complaints and providing immediate relief remain the top priorities of the Chief Minister of Punjab.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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