LAHORE: The Punjab Water And Sanitation Authority (Pwasa) has directed its field staff to expedite the ongoing desilting drive across the province and complete it by June 15 ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.
“Though the drive is underway fast, we have advised all of our field formations to intensify the drive and complete this important task by June 15. Our staff is currently in the field to desilt drains, sewer lines etc,” Pwasa Director General Tayyab Farid said while talking to Dawn on Tuesday.
According to a report, of 2,633.54km long critical sewer lines have been selected for desilting and desilting work on 1995.63km (75.8pc) has been completed across Punjab. A total of 17,406,494,471 manholes have been cleaned, whereas drains measuring 405.18km of the total 515.89km have been desilted. Of the 302 wet wells, desilting in 226 has also been carried out. Waste weighing 256,022 tonnes has been collected during the ongoing desilting drive so far. Nearly 2,400 field sanitation workers and 209 heavy equipment have been deployed for the drive.
While discussing the district-wise desilting progress by water and sanitation agencies, the report mentions Lahore with 84.6pc, Faisalabad 65.9pc, Rawalpindi-68.6pc, Gujranwala-88.5pc, Multan-55pc, Sargodha-89.4pc, Sialkot-57.2pc, Bahawalpur-65.7pc, Sahiwal-84.9pc, Dera Ghazxi Khan-62.7pc, Sheikhupura-82.8pc, Rahim Yar Khan-93.7pc, Jhang-81.3pc, Kasur-84.7pc, Okara-71.3pc, Mianwali-62.4pc, Narowal-45.5pc, Toba Tek Singh-64.1pc, Khushab-60.3pc, Chiniot-85pc, Pakpattan-68.1pc, Bhakkar-62pc, Layyah-70.3pc, Muzaffargarh-62pc, Lodhran-75pc, Khanewal-62.6pc, Vehari-77.7pc, Bahawalnagar-87.3pc, Rajanpur-60.1pc, Attock-52.7pc, Chakwal-71.9pc, Jhelum-83.9pc, Hafizabad-82.1pc, Mandi Bahauddin-95.7pc, Nankana Sahib-60.6pc, Wazirabad-63.1pc, Gujrat-65pc, Murree-91.3pc, Talagang-97.2pc, Taunsa-71.8pc and Kot Addu-85.3pc.
Talking to Dawn, a senior official of the housing, urban development and public health engineering department termed the drive first of its kind in Punjab, as no one took this important issue on top priority earlier.
“We took this seriously, converting this task into a drive that will be completed by all means till June 15,” said Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal while talking to this reporter. He further said the work on the development schemes under the Punjab Development Programme (PDP) had been completed with 75pc progress and it was expected to be finished by June 30.
EID CLEANLINESS DRIVE: The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) has directed district horticulture agencies to ensure cleanliness and safety in public parks during Eid days with a heavy influx of visitors seeking recreation expected during the holidays.
Eidul Azha sees a significant rise in outdoor activity, with public parks serving as one of the most popular destinations as families look to spend leisure time together. Major recreational hubs such as the Race Course Park and Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, as well as parks in other cities, typically draw large crowds during the holidays.
PHA Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmad in a statement said that the horticulture agencies must ensure regular cleaning, proper waste disposal, and an adequate supply of dustbins across all parks. On the safety front, district agencies must deploy security personnel and necessary equipment, including surveillance cameras, to maintain order during the festive days, while senior officials would be posted to oversee facilities across public parks, he added. PHA officials would also coordinate with district administration to ensure a well-managed environment for visitors, Mr Ahmad said.
The umbrella body of district horticulture agencies has also suspended the installation and operation of temporary amusement rides in parks across the province during Eidul Azha.
According to Mr Ahmad, horticulture agencies had been directed not to allow temporary mechanical rides, swings, or similar setups in parks under their control. However, permanently installed rides at amusement parks would remain operational subject to the submission of valid fitness certificates by owners and operators, confirming compliance with prescribed safety standards.
The agencies had also been instructed to strictly enforce the ban and ensure only certified permanent rides operate during the Eid holidays, Mr Ahmad added.
Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2026
