The Punjab government has announced a Rs. 31 billion project for Lahore’s water supply system. The project aims to reduce the city’s dependence on groundwater.
Under the plan, authorities will treat water from the BRB Canal for drinking purposes. A new Surface Water Treatment Plant will be built near Bhaini Road.
The treatment plant will initially process 54 million gallons of water per day (MGD). Authorities plan to expand its capacity to 540 MGD in the future.
The project is designed to provide Lahore with an alternative source of water. It will gradually reduce the pressure on underground water reserves.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the Central Development Working Party has approved the project’s PC-I. The proposal will now move to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, known as ECNEC, will provide the final approval. Construction work will begin after the required approval is granted.
Lahore currently depends heavily on groundwater for its daily water needs. WASA Lahore operates 594 deep tube wells across the city.
These tube wells supply about 329 million gallons of groundwater every day. Continued extraction has increased concerns about the city’s declining groundwater reserves.
The new project seeks to address this issue through the use of treated surface water. Canal water will undergo treatment before being supplied for drinking purposes.
The initial treatment capacity will cover a smaller portion of Lahore’s water requirements. However, the planned expansion could significantly increase the use of surface water.
The project will also receive financial support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The assistance comes under a $235 million financing package for Lahore’s water and wastewater management.
The financing package supports efforts to improve the city’s water infrastructure. It also aims to strengthen wastewater management and improve long-term water sustainability.
Officials expect the project to help conserve Lahore’s underground water resources. Replacing some groundwater with treated canal water could reduce extraction from deep tube wells.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to manage Lahore’s growing water needs. Its success will depend on final approval and the completion of the planned treatment facilities.
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Once operational, the plant could provide a new source of treated drinking water. The planned capacity expansion would further increase its role in the city’s water supply.
