LAHORE: The Punjab government has initiated extensive development schemes under the Punjab Development Plan, allocating Rs200 billion to resolve long-standing sewerage and drainage problems in various districts, according to a report prepared by the Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority (Pwasa).
The report notes that Phase I of the chief minister’s development programme earmarked nearly Rs200 billion for the housing, urban development, and public health engineering department. The objective is to upgrade municipal services and minimise the risk of urban flooding during the monsoon season.
Implementation has already begun in districts such as Jhang, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Jhelum, Okara, and Sargodha. Additional districts are expected to be included as the programme progresses.
Under the plan, approximately 1,610 kilometres of new sewerage pipelines will be installed, while around 741 kilometres of outdated networks will be rehabilitated to cope with the pressures of expanding urban populations.
For improved stormwater management, the government has proposed constructing 92 kilometres of main drains and over 108 kilometres of roadside drainage channels. These initiatives aim to enhance water flow during heavy rainfall and reduce recurring waterlogging in low-lying urban areas.
“Very complex engineering is involved in such projects from layout to design, soil studies, levels, connectivity and gravity amid carrying sewage water from a household to a water body. It requires lateral sewerage to secondary and trunk sewerage lanes that lead to disposal stations 40 to 50 feet deep, and pumping the same back up in drains to finally throwing it in a water body,” explained Housing Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal while talking to Dawn.
The report also highlights that 27 new disposal stations are being set up across 15 districts, while 59 existing stations are being upgraded to restore full operational efficiency.
In certain areas, large storage tanks are being constructed to hold excess rainwater and reduce pressure on drainage systems during peak monsoon periods. The programme’s implementation follows the establishment of Wasas across Punjab, enabling district-level agencies to execute development work.
“Upgrading sewerage and drainage infrastructure is not merely a construction exercise; it is fundamental to protecting cities from climate-related stresses and ensuring reliable municipal services for decades,” he said when inquired about the progress.
He further stated that sustainable construction techniques are being employed so that roads and streets rebuilt after sewerage work will be more durable and require less maintenance.
“Our objective is to build systems that serve future generations, rather than temporary fixes that require repeated intervention,” he added.
Punjab’s cities particularly Lahore have experienced mounting strain due to rapid population growth, unregulated urban expansion, and shifting weather patterns.
Experts maintain that investing in drainage and sewerage systems is vital not only for public health but also for economic stability, as repeated flooding disrupts business activity and damages infrastructure.
“Balanced development across districts remains central to the government’s strategy,” the secretary said, adding that equitable infrastructure expansion would support safer and more sustainable urban environments throughout Punjab.
