PUNJAB Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the government will introduce a state-of-the-art water supply, sanitation and rain water drainage system by restructuring the Water and Sanitation Agency in Lahore and other mega cities of the province (Sept 9).

Mr Sharif pointed out that the government had hired the services of Turkish experts ISKI, a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The ISKI will help Wasa in capacity building of Wasa officials and developing short-term and medium-term plans for the management of water supply, drainage of waste water and rainwater. For this an agreement would also be signed with the Turk Municipality, he added.

Turkish company Vesbo is planning to put up a world class PVC pipe making plant in Pakistan. Vesbo have a patented technology using which they can make SPIRA brand pipes up to 10 feet in diameter.

The beauty of this Turkish technology is that these large diameter pipes can be made on the site, instead of transporting them long distances incurring heavy costs. Moreover, the SPIRA PVC pipe is cheaper than the RCC pipe which is used extensively by Wasa for sewerage and rainwater drainage schemes. Unlike RCC pipes, which last for an average of 12 to 15 years, the PVC made pipes can last for more than 40 years.

Turkish companies are doing a great job in Pakistan.

S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA Karachi