FAISALABAD, June 10: The Wasa managing-director, Rasheed Ahmad Chaudhry, said on Thursday the World Bank had shown keen interest in providing financial assistance to the agency for several water projects.

These projects include provision of potable water and drainage facilities, installation of water treatment plant in the district and restructuring of the local set-up.

Talking to reporters after meeting with a delegation of the World Bank, he said the bank had showed interest in the affairs of the Faisalabad Development Authority and the agency offices' development.

He said the delegation was briefed on various projects Wasa had undertaken to provide facilities to people. Besides, the team was also informed about the master plan for development.

The agency, he said, was facing an uphill task in providing potable water to citizens because the underground water had become brackish. "There is no natural flow for the sewerage and rainwater in the district due to which every drop is thrown out of the district by installing water pumps." He said the agency was paying Rs180 million annually to Wapda as commercial tariff, which was a major burden on it.