LAHORE, June 30: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said all water supply and sewerage lines in the province will be changed under a phased programme to ensure the provision of clean and safe drinking water to people. Talking to a delegation of international water supply company Atlantis, headed by its president Randi Kraft, here on Thursday, the chief minister said the government was encouraging foreign investment in water supply and drainage projects in urban areas for the provision of safe potable water to the citizens.

He informed the delegation that a comprehensive rural water supply and drainage programme had been launched in Rajanpur, Khanewal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and other southern Punjab districts, where new tubewells were being installed and water supply lines being replaced.

Provincial housing secretary Akhlaq Tarrar said the government was considering participation of the private sector in water supply projects.

The chief minister was later briefed on the services offered by the company for supply of drinking water.