LAHORE: In line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the directives of Chief Secretary Zahid Akhter Zaman, a significant milestone has been achieved towards the establishment of a modern, sustainable, and long-term sewerage system in the province.
With technical assistance from the Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC), and World Bank, Mr Carlo Alberto, the production of advanced High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE-lined) RCC sewerage pipes based on imported Chinese technology has officially commenced.
In this regard, Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq inaugurated the modern HDPE lining pipe manufacturing facility.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by PMDFC Chairman Imad Iftikhar Malik, Local Government Special Secretary Shahid Zaman Lak, PMDFC Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz, Member PMDFC Board Qamar Uz Zaman, Wasa officials and other relevant authorities.
Speaking on the occasion, PMDFC Chairman Imad Iftikhar Malik stated that this project is a practical reflection of the chief minister’s vision to upgrade urban infrastructure in line with international standards. He added that PMDFC & Mr Carlo Alberto from World Bank not only played a key role in planning the initiative but also facilitated the transfer of advanced technology from China.
He highlighted that during his recent visit to China, the acquisition of this technology was made possible, after which Chinese experts visited Pakistan and provided on-ground technical support. As a result, sewerage pipes are now being manufactured in Punjab with a lifespan of up to 100 years, compared to the conventional 25 years. This will significantly reduce costs while providing citizens with a durable and efficient drainage system. It will also help eliminate accidents caused by collapsing sewerage lines, thereby preventing loss of precious human lives and property.
Chairman of PMDFC said that this initiative is not only a milestone in infrastructure development but will also promote local industry and generate new employment opportunities. He reaffirmed that under the CM’s leadership, PMDFC will continue its efforts to make cities across the province more modern, clean and developed.
Managing Director of PMDFC, Syed Zahid Aziz, stated that alongside PMDFC’s technical support, the World Bank counterpart team led by Mr. Carlo Alberto also played an important role in this project.
In this context, engineers were also facilitated with an exposure visit to the Singapore Water Centre, enabling the integration of global best practices in water and sanitation systems into local projects.
He added that as a result of these combined technical efforts and international exposure, Pakistan is now producing state-of-the-art sewerage pipes with a lifespan extended from the conventional 25 years to 100 years, marking a revolutionary improvement in sewerage infrastructure standards. The use of these pipes will not only improve sewerage systems but will also significantly reduce recurring government expenditure on sewerage infrastructure.
The HDPE-lined RCC pipes being manufactured at the facility meet modern quality standards and will be used in ongoing and future sewerage projects across the province.
