FAISALABAD, March 5: City District Nazim Rana Zahid Tauseef has warned policy makers the industrial city’s health, sanitation and road infrastructure badly needed a major overhaul.

He further warned them of spread of fatal viral diseases like hepatitis in the city if immediate steps were not taken regarding supply of potable water.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, the nazim also stressed development of the district’s urban as well as rural areas.

The nazim said the underground water in almost entire district had become brackish due to industrial effluents and the sewerage lines laid down decades ago had also become defective in the heavily populated areas of the city resulting in unhygienic conditions.

He claimed the number of hepatitis patients and of those suffering from other serious diseases was escalating due to chemical pollutants in the city’s atmosphere and water.

The road infrastructure had also become dilapidated and was insufficient for a rising number of vehicles in the district, mainly because of the reckless urbanisation during the last three decades, he added.

He deplored that the situation of healthcare centres and educational institutions was also deteriorating for want of funds and many serious patients suffering from ailments of heart, liver, and cancer had to be shifted to Lahore for treatment.

Mr Tauseef said the district required at least over Rs20 billion for provision of basic facilities to the people.

He said during his recent meeting with Gen Pervez Musharraf, he apprised the president of the problems being confronted by the citizens. The president, he said, had pledged a huge grant for the district’s uplift.