Rawalpindi:
The Department of Housing Engineering, Urban Development and Public Health of Punjab has decided to establish three new key institutions: the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) and the Development Authorities, in 36 existing districts to improve public service, development work and embellishment efforts.
Punjab currently includes 41 districts. However, the five newly created districts, including Murree, Talagang, Kot Addu and Nankana Sahib, have been excluded from this initiative. Currently, the development authorities work in five districts: Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, fine and Lahore.
WASA agencies are already operational in 15 cities. Initially, they settled in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Lahore and fine. In the second phase, scheduled for June, approval has been granted to expand the operations of WASA to 10 more cities: Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Jhelum, Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang and Okara. The implementation work has already begun, and it is expected that complete operations will begin with the new fiscal year on July 1.
Similarly, the PHA are currently active in five cities. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025-26, from July 1 to September 30, Phas, Wasas and the development authorities will be established and operated in the 36 oldest districts. Budget allocations have been made for this expansion.
As for the five new districts that were left out, the establishment of these three institutions is planned for the third phase. These new districts are not yet completely autonomous, since the district level departments and quotes have not been completed, including district chiefs.
As a result, these areas remain in an administrative state of transition, neither completely integrated nor independent. For example, district judges and sessions have not been appointed, and both police and district administrations are not yet completely autonomous.
The presidents and vice presidents of these new institutions will be appointed among the political workers and the chosen members of the Punjab Assembly. Future development, beautification projects and sanitation schemes will begin through these agencies and authorities.
The Secretary of Housing, Urban Development and Department of Public Health Engineering has issued a notification of the Gazette, after the approval of the Punjab governor, for the establishment of WASA in the 10 additional cities.
The Call of the District Development Committee, MNA Qamar-Ul-Islam engineer, says that the new fiscal year is dedicated to public development and service. The PHA, the wasas and the development authorities are being established in all the main cities of Punjab gradually, he adds.
