Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given in-principle approval to extend the Model Village Project to 7,500 villages as part of its second phase. During a special meeting focused on rural development and clean water initiatives, she instructed officials to provide clear timelines for the completion of various project components and to submit comparative videos showcasing conditions before and after the interventions in each village.
A key target has been set to clean stagnant wastewater ponds, locally known as chhappar, across the villages by June 30. To ensure swift resolution of issues with water filtration plants, a dedicated helpline (1336) has been launched and is now fully operational.
Maryam Nawaz also emphasized the timely completion of bottling plants in Khushab and Chishtian. Additionally, she ordered that the cluster-based water supply scheme in Rajanpur be finalized by May 15. She stressed the urgent need to repair and restore all non-functional water filtration plants immediately, highlighting that clean drinking water is a fundamental right, especially in the most polluted and underdeveloped areas of Punjab.
“Negligence in repairing water filtration plants will not be tolerated,” she declared, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring access to safe drinking water for all citizens.
Officials reported that work on transforming 485 villages under Phase I is advancing rapidly, with an estimated investment exceeding Rs59 billion. Each model village will be outfitted with water supply systems, solar-powered tube wells, improved drainage infrastructure, and cleaned wastewater ponds.
In a significant development, the chief minister set August 31 as the deadline for completing septic tanks, which serve as natural water filtration systems. Once desilted, the water from these tanks will be reused for irrigation purposes, promoting sustainable water management.
