PESHAWAR: Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) on Wednesday approved feasibility study for setting up a sewage treatment plant costing Rs200 million in Faqir Kallay area of the provincial capital.

The forum met with Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah in the chair and took up several development projects for approval. The meeting discussed the feasibility study of sewage treatment plant, which would cater to the needs of 11 urban and rural union councils of Peshawar.

Documents available with Dawn show that that the plant will improve the sanitation services of the provincial capital.

Besides, it will provide an efficient wastewater conveyance system from the project area and treat the municipal wastewater before it is finally disposed into natural water bodies in line with National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS).

The plant will cater to the needs of 11 union councils of Peshawar

The project will contribute to SDG-2 as sustainable development is a universal call of action in 17 sectors to end poverty, protect planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity wherein SDG-6 pertains to sanitation and clean drinking water.

The treatment and disposal of municipal wastewater is a big challenge in all the major cities of the province including Peshawar.

“Proposed project covers drainage district IV and site Faqir Kallay is identified in the sanitation master plan of Peshawar where the plant will be constructed to treat the wastewater of Drainage District IV, comprising 11 union councils,” said the document.

The union councils, which the project will cover, include Hassan Ghari I and II, Pawaka, University Town, Tehkal Payan I and II, Tehkal Bala, Hayatabad I and II, Achini Bala and Cantonment.

The plant will treat water of two canals — Jo Sheikh and Kabul River canal — and will be completed within four years. Documents show that Rs40 million has been allocated to the project in the current fiscal.

Besides, the meeting also approved Rs1 billion project to set up parks in different parts of the province. The parks will be set up in Abbottabad, Bannu, Battagram, Buner, Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu, Haripur, Karak, Kohat, Kolai Palas, Lakki Marwat, Lower Chitral, Lower Dir, Lower Kohistan, Malakand, Mansehra, Mardan, Nowshera, Shangla, Swat, Tank, Torghar, Upper Chitral, Upper Dir and Upper Kohistan districts.

The forum noted that there was need of public parks in all localities of province. It also approved rehabilitation of facilities in Sheikh Maltoon Town Mardan at a cost of Rs427 million.

Besides, PDWP approved another project of setting up parks in district and tehsil level in tribal districts at a cost of Rs 700 million.

The forum also approved rehabilitation of Shahi Katha drain in the provincial capital at a cost of Rs106 million.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2021