Important progress has been made in advancing water supply and sewerage projects in Kasur and Chakwal under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.The Municipal Committees and WASAs of both cities signed agreements with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which will provide transaction advisory support for the projects.With IFC’s support, the cities will select an experienced private operator. The operator will be responsible for designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining the project infrastructure. The proposed scope includes water distribution networks, pumping stations, improvements in revenue and bill collection, and the expansion and rehabilitation of sewerage systems. The total estimated cost of the projects in both cities is approximately PKR 20 billion.These are the first PPP projects in Punjab’s water supply and sanitation sector. They are being advanced under the World Bank-supported Punjab Inclusive Cities Program (PICP), which is being implemented in 16 cities, including Kasur and Chakwal, to improve municipal services, particularly water supply and sewerage. Under the Local Government Department, the Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) will implement the program in collaboration with partner Municipal Committees.
The program aims to improve the provision of quality water supply and safe sanitation for residents. The initiative is supported by the Punjab Local Government & Community Development Department (LG&CDD), the Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHED), PMDFC and the World Bank.The Punjab Public-Private Partnership Authority convened the signing ceremony at its office, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Zeeshan Hanif. Talib Fareed, DG P WASA; Syed Zahid Aziz, MD, PMDFC; Sarah Hayat Gondal, Deputy Commissioner Chakwal; Shahid Latif, Deputy Secretary, Local Government Department; and Dr. Kaleem, Additional Deputy Commissioner General, Kasur, attended the
ceremony.Representatives of the IFC and the World Bank also attended, along with Moinuddin Sheikh, PPP Expert, PMDFC; Mahmood Masood Tamana, GM, ID, PMDFC; and Ayesha Iftikhar, Communication Specialist, World Association of PPP Units and Professionals.
