The Water and Sanitation Authority of Punjab (PWSA) has asked the five water and sanitation agencies (Wass) in the province to complete its monsoon preparations before May 31.
During a performance review meeting held on Saturday, the general director of the PWSA, Tayyab Farid, emphasized the urgent need to clean the sewerage lines, repair heavy machinery and establish monzónic camps before the season before the Monzón begins on June 15, according to an application report.
“Income recovery is essential to keep water and sewerage services,” said Farid, emphasizing that Wasas must also improve its financial performance to maintain essential services working without problems.
The meeting was attended by managers and officers of the five wasas. Farid said that, in addition to technical preparations, low areas must be identified and that training drills with emergency services should be carried out to prepare for possible floods.
Meanwhile, the managing director of Wasa Rawalpindi, Muhammad Salem Ashraf, gave information about the progress of his agency. He said that the cleaning of sewerage lines was already underway and that it would be completed before the deadline.
He added that Wasa Rawalpindi has functional heavy machinery that includes Sucker and Jetting machines and drain pumps ready to respond to emergencies. The agency has also asked the Punjab Government to clean Leh Nullah and another 15 main drains in the city.
The low areas in Rawalpindi have already been identified with the help of the district administration, and the trained personnel with machinery will be deployed in those points during heavy rains. Salem also shared that simulated exercises will be carried out in collaboration with Rescue 1122 and other agencies in Leh Nullah and Rawal Dam.
Wasa Rawalpindi will also establish five Monzón camps throughout the city that will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a control room in the central office will supervise the situation and handle complaints.
On the income side, Wasa Rawalpindi recovered RS1.7 billion last year, exceeding its objective of RS1,57 billion. The goal for this year is RS2.3 billion, and Salem said he also hopes to beat that figure.
