LAHORE: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) and Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) have joined hands to restore and conserve the historical steam-powered water pumping station near Lorry Adda in Badami Bagh.

The pump station installed in a building used to be a part of the water supply system to the walled city and adjoining areas during the British era and even before.

Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmad and WCLA Director General Najamus Saqib also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard on Monday.

“Any construction activity at this historical mega steam pump and building will be made under supervision of the heritage experts. However, the ownership of the pump/building would remain vested with us,” the Wasa MD said while speaking on the occasion.

“At this moment, we should also nominate a focal person for this important project,” he said.

According to the MoU, the objective of the project is to conserve, restore and structurally rehabilitate the heritage pump house building, preserve historical and functional linkage between pump building and Paniwala Talab, ensure adaptive reuse of the building in a manner compatible with its heritage character and long term protection, operation and maintenance of the site.

The scope of the Wasa-WCLA collaboration includes architectural conservation and structural rehabilitation of the pump building, reuse for the building to promote public engagement, heritage awareness, sustainable use, site management and long-term maintenance protocols.

The WCLA would be responsible to conduct heritage assessment, prepare conservation and reuse plan, mobilise technical and conservation experts for execution of conservation, arrange funding, undertake architectural restoration, operate and manage the site and develop public programmes, exhibitions and educational activities at site.

Wasa will be liable to transfer operational control of the pump building (excluding the land ownership) to the WCLA.

“The duration of this MoU consists of a 10-year period,” the WCLA DG said.

CLEANLINESS: The Suthra Punjab Agency Lahore has mobilised a dedicated sanitation workforce at 23 Ramazan bazaars established by the district administration across Lahore’s nine towns.

A total of 156 Suthra Punjab Agency Lahore workers are performing duties in two shifts at model and Sahulat bazaars set up for Ramazan. Additional waste containers and bins have been installed in and around the bazaars to ensure waste disposal while sanitation staff have also been deployed to facilitate citizens and maintain cleanliness.

Cleaning teams are operating at Ramazan Sahulat bazaars in Harbanspura, China Scheme, Chuhng, Sabzazar, Raiwind and Thokar Niaz Baig. Similarly, cleanliness operations are underway at Mian Plaza, Township, Sher Shah Colony, Wahdat Colony, Ashiana Road, Bedian Road and Barki Road.

CRACKDOWN: In the ongoing crackdown on the price hike, various teams of the city administration got 31 cases registered against the shopkeepers involved in overcharging, hoarding and other illegalities.

According to a spokesman, 40 shopkeepers were arrested and Rs2.9m fine was imposed on them during the last couple of days.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2026