LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) sought on Friday the personal appearance of Punjab Chief Secretary Akbar Durrani to explain the government’s position in a matter regarding taking measures to stop the waste of clean water.

Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi also directed the secretary to irrigation, managing director of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and additional director general of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to appear before court on Saturday (today).

The judge was hearing a petition by Abdullah Malik of Civil Society Network seeking steps to control the waste of clean water by government and individuals as well.

Petitioner’s counsel contended the PHA washed all main roads of the city and watered plants with clean water while vehicles were being washed at private service stations with clean water.

He said huge quantity of clean water being wasted by the government and private persons could be recycled, if steps were taken to save it. The petitioner said that underground water had gone to dangerous level but the government had failed to initiate any concrete measure to improve the situation. The judge also summoned representatives of car service stations association on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2018