SAHIWAL: The Punjab Saaf Pani Authority (PSPA) will install 585 new water filtration plants with a total amount of Rs4.5 billion in Sahiwal Division during ongoing fiscal 2026-27.

According to sources, the government had already allocated Rs40bn to the PSPA under the Punjab Annual Development Plan, with a total of 5,782 filtration plants to be installed across the province in the financial year.

Syed Jahan Tab, Deputy Director PSPA Sahiwal Division, confirmed that out of the total of the 585 plants, 151 will be installed in District Sahiwal, 173 in Pakpattan, and 262 in Okara. He informed that a complete feasibility study was already done by casting all financial details, including new electricity connection and charges, operation and monitoring.

He added that the initiative aimed at ensuring that every village among three districts of Sahiwal division would receive at least one water filtration plant soon.

Mr Tab added that 268 plants would operate on reverse osmosis (RO), which removed dissolved salts, ions and viruses using high-pressure membranes. The remaining 318 plants would use microfiltration (MF), designed to eliminate suspended solids, bacteria and larger particles through low-pressure filtration.

“Village selection for plant sites has already been finalised on the need base assessment by using GIS coordinates to guarantee equitable coverage in rural communities.”

The deputy director said the installation of these plants would ensure the availability of clean and safe drinking water for the rural population of Sahiwal Division.

AIOU: In the digital era, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) has become indispensable and educational institutions must adapt to these changing circumstances.

AI education equips students with critical skills to understand, develop and ethically apply technology in a world where it influences everything from classrooms to careers. By combining technical knowledge with real-world problem solving, it prepares learners not only to use AI tools but also to question, refine, and ensure they serve society responsibly.

This was stated by Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nasir Mahmood while inaugurating the regional centre of the university in Sahiwal city. The state-of-the-art campus, constructed on two acres of land at a cost of Rs270m houses the regional director’s office, staff offices, student facilitation area, laboratories, library, tutorial rooms and storage facilities.The first floor includes a lecture theatre, examination hall, classrooms and an online conference room.

The VC said the AIOU was the first distance learning university in Asia and the second in the world.

“We pioneered the distance learning model half a century ago, which is now adopted by universities worldwide.”

Dr Mahmood stressed that in the current era, AI training was more essential than merely acquiring degrees.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Director General Regional Services Dr Malik Tauqir Ahmad, Regional Director Dr Ahmar Zulfiqar and others.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026