SAHIWAL: The implementation of Asian Development Bank-funded mega project called “Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Project” (PICIIP) is suffering mainly due to lack of coordination among different departments.

The issue was reportedly discussed at a high-level review meeting chaired by Noorul Amin Mengal, Secretary, Local Government and Community Development, here at the commissioner office on Monday.

The meeting noted that lack of coordination among local line departments, issuance of NoC by the highways department, delay in construction and delivery of sewerage pipes by contractors, political involvement of ruling party members in decision-making process and delay in approval for cutting trees for widening roads were hampering the execution of the Rs18billion project in Sahiwal.

Dawn learnt from sources that the provincial secretary showed `strong reservations’ over the slow implementation of the PICIIP. He asked contractors engaged in replacing old sewerage lines and widening of roads to work during night time as well. He asked the highways department to issue NoC within three days for widening roads.

Earlier, programme director Dr Omer Jahangir gave a briefing on different ongoing works. He said a clean drinking water supply chain would be developed which would cater to the needs of 554,000 residents of Sahiwal city till 2044. Under the scheme, 547 kms long pipelines would be replaced.

Work for 28 new tube wells, 10 new water filtration plants and four new water reservoirs had been started and would be completed next year. He said under the new sewerage system, 11,744 km new sewerage pipelines would be laid.

The PICIIP would replace 13 existing wastewater pumps and two new centralized pumping stations would be developed which will save 15 per cent electricity cost of the Metropolitan Corporation.

Addressing the issue of lack of coordination among line departments, the secretary formed a steering committee for monitoring PICIIP progress on a weekly basis.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2021