Sahiwal Division received over 140mm of heavy monsoon rain in just two days, which overwhelmed the city’s sewerage system. The existing drainage infrastructure struggled to cope with the sudden load, causing widespread pressure on sewer lines.
Field Mobilization Under Commissioner’s Orders
Acting on the instructions of Commissioner Dr. Asif Tufail, all officers from the district administration and municipal corporation moved into the field to address the situation promptly and ensure relief for citizens.
High-Level Meeting at Municipal Corporation
Commissioner Dr. Asif Tufail chaired an emergency meeting at the Municipal Corporation office to review the ongoing challenges and coordinate the response strategy.
Key participants included:
- Deputy Commissioner Shahid Mehmood
- Additional Commissioner Coordination Dr. Saifullah Bhatti
- Director Development and Finance Shafiq Ahmad Dogar
- Director Public Relations Muhammad Aqeel Ashfaq
- Director Local Government Shahid Farooq Warraich
- Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Captain (R) Osama Majeed
- Additional Deputy Commissioner Finance and Planning Rana Aurangzeb
- Chief Officer Corporation Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad
- Other relevant officers
Immediate Directives and Citywide Action Plan
Commissioner Dr. Asif Tufail directed all city disposal stations to operate at full capacity to manage water accumulation. He acknowledged that residents may face temporary difficulties due to the strain on the sewerage system.
During the meeting, officers discussed drainage issues in detail and identified key problem areas. They assigned specific duties to relevant officials to implement immediate and effective solutions.
PSP Oversight and Monitoring Assignments
To enhance supervision:
- Deputy Commissioner Shahid Mehmood will oversee all PSP (Punjab Sustainable Program) works in the northern part of the city.
- Director Development and Finance Shafiq Ahmad Dogar will manage operations in the southern part.
Commissioner Tufail instructed all administrative officers to gain a complete understanding of the city’s drainage and infrastructure problems. He also promised to allocate additional resources to the Municipal Corporation for effective execution.
New Sewerage Infrastructure Plans
During the briefing, Chief Officer Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad announced that the government will lay a new sewerage line for the central parts of the city to resolve drainage bottlenecks. He identified 14 key points where rainwater typically accumulates.
Commissioner Tufail instructed officials to connect all newly laid PSP sewerage lines to the main system without delay. He assigned the Deputy Commissioner of Sahiwal to personally supervise the integration of missing links.
Resolution Expected by September
Commissioner Dr. Asif Tufail emphasized that the new sewerage lines will become fully functional by September, which is expected to significantly resolve the city’s longstanding drainage issues.