LAHORE: The executive committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved to upgrade part of Lahore’s vital sewerage system using trenchless technology.

The approval was given in a meeting on Thursday in which senior officials of the Punjab government, including Planning and Development Board Chairman and secretaries of various departments including housing, urban development and public health, engineering department, and communication and works, participated through video-link.

The Ecnec was briefed about the importance of the Rs50 billion project in which a new trunk sewer and sewerage system would be laid from Larechs colony to Gulshan-e-Ravi using trenchless technology. The meeting was told that the project had been stuck in development since 2019.

“It is a major development and good news for Lahorites, as the project will resolve various issues related to sewerage water drainage,” said Housing Secretary Noor Ul Amin Mengal while talking to Dawn after the meeting.

Modern sewerage system will be laid from Larechs Colony to Gulshan-i-Ravi; Work likely to begin in January 2026

“Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz and senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb took special interest in getting this project approved by the Ecnec,” he acknowledged.

According to the project concept paper, the existing sewerage system in the area was laid some 25 to 60 years ago and it had become deficient for the present population due to the passage of time and rapid urbanisation. It said the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) carried out planning for central Lahore in 2005 and recommended laying of a trunk sewer line, which was substantiated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and a private consultancy firm in their studies in 2010 and 2018.

The project would be executed under the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model by a reputable firm through a competitive bidding process. A loan of USD160 million would be provided by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), whereas the rest would be provided by the Punjab government.

The scope of the work include laying a 32.37km trunk sewer Line A from Larech Colony to Qurtaba Chowk, a 12.14km Line B from Gurumangat to Qurtaba Chowk, 12.82km Line C from Qurtaba Chowk to Gulshan-e-Ravi and 7.25km of lateral sewers using the open cut and cover method.

The other works include construction of ultimate disposal station of 848 cusecs capacity and rehabilitation of existing drains and outfall channels. It is estimated that 2.36 million people will benefit from the project upto the year 2050. Its catchment area consists of 15,658 acres, whereas beneficiary localities include Gulberg, Shadman, Ichra, Lakhsmi Chowk, Harbanspura, Gulshan-e-Ravi and Allama Iqbal Road.

The project will be executed using innovation and modern techniques such as trenchless technology through micro-tunneling machines, tunnel boring machines, vertical spinning technology for casting pipes, provision of HDPE liner in pipes to mitigate foul gas corrosion, odor control & ventilation system, flow measurement & foul gas detection system, SCADA monitoring & control system, variable frequency drive sewage pumps at disposal station, climate resilient infrastructure and eco-friendly design with low carbon emissions.

The project aims to be completed without disruption in the routine business of the people, whereas it is expected to increase the life of the sewer and pipes upto 100 years.

After its completion, over 22 lift stations would be closed down saving millions of rupees currently being spent on electricity, repair and maintenance.

The bank is expected to approve the loan by the end of next month, whereas the work on the project is likely to begin in January next year and will be completed by June, 2026.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2025