LAHORE:To review ongoing activities, planning, and progress under the Punjab Inclusive Cities Programme, a World Bank (WB) mission team visited the Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company(PMDFC) here on Monday.
The mission team comprised Carlo Alberto, Amena Raja, Sohaib Rasheed, and Seemab Rehan, while Imran-ul-Haq and Azharuddin Khan participated in the meeting online via Zoom.On the occasion, Syed Zahid Aziz, Managing Director of Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company(PMDFC), provided a briefing to the World Bank delegation on various aspects of the programme and informed them about the measures being undertaken to achieve its objectives.
He stated that under the Punjab Inclusive Cities Programme, an investment of $400 million was being made in 16 cities of Punjab, representing an unprecedented initiative to improve municipal services across the province.
He explained that the project would use special HDPE-lined pipes, which will extend the lifespan of sewerage infrastructure from 25 years to nearly 100 years. During the briefing, the MD also highlighted that under the programme, water supply and sanitation projects in Kasur and Chakwal will be implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
According to Zahid Aziz, the Punjab Inclusive Cities Programme will not only contribute to improved sanitation services but will also have positive impacts in addressing serious public health challenges such as child stunting.
He further noted that underground rainwater storage tanks will also be constructed for better management and drainage of storm water. Additionally, the programme includes several e-governance initiatives aimed at improving the performance of urban institutions.
Moreover, an Information Technology-based monitoring dashboard has been developed to ensure transparency and enable effective tracking of project performance and progress, he added.The World Bank mission team appreciated PMDFC’s efforts and reaffirmed its commitment to continued cooperation in achieving the programme’s goals.
