GUJRAT: The slow trickle of funds for the ongoing drainage and sewerage schemes in Gujrat city can delay the projects and also jeopardise the safety of residents, Dawn has learnt.
The Gujrat water and sanitation agency (Wasa) and the irrigation department had sought Rs3.71 billion in the current fiscal year for the completion of ongoing schemes in the city. However, a total of Rs1.9 billion had been allocated and released by the authorities concerned in the Punjab government, official sources told Dawn.
They said that the deadline to complete the ongoing schemes was Dec 2026, but due to the allocation of limited funds, these projects might not be completed within the stipulated time. Similarly, they said that at least Rs3.46 billion were required to initiate new drainage schemes to further protect suburban and urban populations of the city. However, they claimed that not a single penny had been allocated for such a scheme.
In September 2025, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced an uplift package to resolve the chronic sewerage and drainage systems of Gujrat city, after which the housing department approved schemes worth Rs17 billion under the Punjab Development Programme (PDP) in Oct 2025. These proposed schemes were divided into two zones, A and B, and Wasa and the irrigation department were assigned the task of executing the projects.
Sharing details on the progress of these projects, a Wasa official said that during the past 10 months only 20 percent progress had been made. He said that due to financial constraints the projects could get delayed further aggravating the situation in the next rainy season. He said that a total of Rs7.18 billion was required to complete the ongoing as well as new critically required schemes to minimise the impact of urban flooding. Otherwise, these projects could not be completed in the next five years, he said.
It is learnt that Wasa has planned new schemes to resolve flooding issues in and around the District Courts, Ghareebpura, New Model Town, Lalazaar, Mehmda, Jattuwakal and adjoining localities. Wasa authorities had also briefed Gujrat Deputy Commissioner Nurulain Qureshi at an official meeting about the situation and the DC also recommended releasing the required funds.
Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2026
