A World Bank mission team visited the Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) today to review ongoing activities, planning, and progress under the Punjab Inclusive Cities Program. 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, MD PMDFC, provided a detailed briefing to the World Bank delegation on various aspects of the program and informed them about the measures being undertaken to achieve its objectives. He stated that under the Punjab Inclusive Cities Program, an investment of USD 400 million is being made in 16 cities of Punjab, representing an unprecedented initiative to improve municipal services across the province.
He further explained that the project will utilize special HDPE-lined pipes, which will extend the lifespan of sewerage infrastructure from 25 years to nearly 100 years. This will not only ensure uninterrupted sewerage services for citizens but will also significantly reduce maintenance and repair costs.During the briefing, the MD also highlighted that under the program, water supply and sanitation projects in Kasur and Chakwal will be implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This marks the first initiative of its kind in Pakistan’s municipal services sector. He added that new WATSAN units have already been established in participating municipal committees, and the appointment of Municipal Officers(WATSAN/Services) has been completed to strengthen service delivery mechanisms.According to Syed Zahid Aziz, the Punjab Inclusive Cities Program 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 stormwater. Additionally, the program includes several e-governance initiatives aimed at improving the performance of urban institutions. These include the Local Government Financial Management Information System (LGFMIS), Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), and dynamic municipal websites. Moreover, an IT-based monitoring dashboard has been developed to ensure transparency and enable effective tracking of project performance and progress.The World Bank mission team appreciated PMDFC’s efforts and reaffirmed its commitment to continued cooperation in achieving the program’s goals.The meeting was attended by Mahmood Masood Tamana (GM ID), Adnan Nisar Khan (GM Engineering), Nauman Akhtar (SPO FM), Muazzam Jamil Khan (SPO ID), and Rukhsana Shahid (SPO Environment) from PMDFC.
