TAXILA: Provision of clean drinking water to the citizens is among the top priorities of the government, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam.

“The PTI government is committed to providing clean drinking water to the citizens during the next four to five years,” he said while talking to newsmen here on Tuesday.

He said Pakistan was among countries which could face a severe water scarcity in coming years. Most diseases are waterborne and 40 per cent of the population falls ill due to the unavailability of clean drinking water, he added.

“The government is taking steps to ensure provision of clean drinking water to citizens,” he said, adding timely utilisation of resources worth millions of rupees would be ensured which would help in continuously providing clean drinking water to citizens.

“The government is also focusing on monitoring tree-cutting trends; this is important to cope with the challenges posed by climate change.”

He said 45 water filtration plants had been installed at a cost of Rs60 million for provision of clean drinking water to residents of Attock, Hazro and Hasanabdal which will certainly control waterborne diseases.

He said five water filtration plants had been installed in Attock city while rest of the plants in Faqeerabad, Haji Shah, Golra, Sarwala, Dher and Gondal.

He said four water filtration plants had been installed in Hasanabdal city and one plant each in Shahia and Hassar villages.

He said three plants had been installed in Hazro city and one plant each in Pethi, Rahmoon, Mararia, Mula Mansoor, Formali, Haidra, Tajak, Waisa, Kamalpur Musa, Haroon, Hameed, Yaseen, Malhoo, Khagwani, Kalu Kalan, Kalu Khurd, Mararia, Behboodi, Ghourghushti, Shinka, Qutb Bandi and Jalalia.

Besides, he added, four drainage schemes and three water supply schemes for village Qibla Bandi, Mula Mansoor and Haji Shah were being completed.

In the Attock city, water filtration plants are being handed over to the tehsil council while rest of the plants will be managed by local committees.

He said the step had been taken because of an increase in pathological pollution, especially in Hazro and some areas of Attock, resulting in the spread of cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and child diseases.

He said the government would extend all possible resources to facilitate the residents and provide them clean drinking water.

He said all water filtration plants installed across the district would be properly maintained.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2021