Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to set up company to address water & sanitation issues

Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Khan Bilour of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday said that the provincial government planned to establish a company on pattern of WASA for addressing the growing issues of water, sanitation and drainage in the provincial metropolis Peshawar.
He informed that an initial grant of Rs 9billion (US $80 million) would be extended by donors to run the company on an experimental basis for a year. He expected that the company would be made operational from 1st July 2012. "We are trying to get immediate funding to establish the company as soon as we can, he determined. "Our efforts would continue to address all issues confronting people in urban areas of the province", he maintained.
Speaking at the news conference here at Peshawar Press Club, he said the urban areas are facing enormous issues relating water, cleanliness, sanitation and drainage due to poor management system, whereas the growing urban population, influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to the settled areas and hosting of Afghan Refugees over the long decades is further aggravating the situation. Flanked by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development, Hadayatullah Khan, Director General Peshawar Development Authority, PDA Qazi Laiq and other relevant officials, he said the government has decided to create a company on same pattern of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in Punjab province to address all issues relating to water and sanitation, drainage and cleanliness being confronted by the town municipal administration.
After creation of the company, he informed that more than 3,700 employees would be devolved on deputation basis most of water and sanitation, and cleanliness staff to management of the company. He regretted that the employees are not paid salaries from the last several months. However, he said the situation will be improved after setting up the company.
He explained that the employees will get 20 percent additional deputation allowance in their basic pay along with existing allowance, benefits and other facilities. He also clarified all allowances, pension, and gratuity would be continued, while serving under the company.
Bilour further said that the company will run under a Managing Director and Director with additional staff of more than 100 experts, having command and knowledge about the addressing of the issues relating to water and sanitation and drainage. He said there will not be imposed any additional taxes by the company. The Senior Minister assured that the government would try to provide all facilities to employees already availing in current positions.
He said that the company priority will be to improve water and sanitation and drainage system in the four towns, cantonment and Hayatabad areas. He said that pathetic situation of water supply chain and poor drainage system had compelled to create a company for redressing the issues.