KP govt accelerates efforts to provide clean drinking water

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ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - SEPTEMBER 19: Slum dwelling children draw drinking water from a hand pump at a street as they lead life in poverty and unhealthy conditions in Islamabad, Pakistan, on September 19, 2014. Many slum dwellers consist of children and deprived of fundamental rights. According to news reports, children from at the ages of 7-8 start to work and they earn their livelihood for their families. (Photo by Muhammed Reza/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has accelerated efforts for the implementation of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision regarding the provision of clean drinking water to all segment of the society.

In compliance with federal government’s instructions, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of KP Public Health Engineering Department Secretary.

Senior management officers of the department including chief engineers, superintending engineers, planning and monitoring director and deputy secretary (technical) attended the meeting.

It was observed during the meeting that field formations were running more than 5,000 water supply schemes throughout the province but still, there was a room for improvement.

While addressing the meeting, the PHED secretary said the provision of clean drinking water to the general public was one of the top priories of the present government and in the PTI’s 100-day plan, solid efforts would be carried out to improve water services for benefits of the health of general public.

He said although water quality testing was a regular feature of the department, water quality testing will be prioritised and be conducted in all districts followed by remedial measures for issues found and action plan for financing shall also be developed.

It was pointed out that cleaning of storage reservoirs, removal of leakages in pipes and operationalisation of non-functional schemes are other activities to be carried out by the department on a priority basis.

In a meeting regarding the PTI’s 100-day plan of action, water quality testing, including its remedial measures, were discussed.

It was decided that new projects for unserved areas and schemes required for the rehabilitation will be included in the five-year plan.