FAISALABAD, July 15: Speakers at a seminar on Saturday stressed the need for a central agency for policy making, planning and extending technical support to local councils to tackle the issues of provision of clean drinking water and water-borne diseases.

The seminar on ‘Water borne diseases’ was organised by the Institute of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) here. The speakers said water was scarce in many areas but clean water was even a dearer commodity in Pakistan.

“Many towns and villages still lack adequate sanitation,” they said and added that treatment of even domestic sewerage was not available at affordable price in Pakistan.

Punjab Communications and Works Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan urged engineers to ensure in time completion of the project initiated by federal government to provide safe drinking water to the urban as well as rural areas.

He said the federal government has allocated huge funds for safe drinking water project, which was expected to be completed within five years. He urged engineers working in the public as well as private sector to give guidelines for in time completion of this project.

He expressed concern over increase in water borne diseases. He also mentioned the recent epidemic like situation in Ghulam Muhammadabad and said a large number of people were affected in Faisalabad by taking contaminated water.

Mr Khan said the Punjab government has taken a serious notice of this situation and directed the departments concerned to replace old sewerage lines with immediate effect. “The work for the replacement of old and redundant pipes is in progress and will be completed soon,” he added.

Provincial parliamentary secretary on environment Ms. Saadia Hamayun said the government has taken appropriate measures to improve the environment.

She stressed on creating awareness about environment related issues. District nazim Rana Zahid Tauseef said unplanned industrial growth has complicated the problems and the government was making efforts to shift the industries from the residential areas.