FAISALABAD: Construction work on the Eastern Wastewater Treatment Plant (EWTP), Punjab’s second-largest wastewater treatment facility, has officially resumed after a temporary suspension caused by security concerns raised by the Danish contractor and its international staff.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Faisalabad has stepped up monitoring of the mega project to ensure its timely completion. A ceremony marking the resumption of construction was held at the project site, where Project Director Hafiz Owais Jamal formally inaugurated the work.
The event was attended by representatives of Danish contractor MUNCK Civil Engineering, including Project Director Rasmus Schmidt Petersen, Project Manager Daniel, foreign engineers, local technical experts, and project consultants.
Foreign engineers have returned to the site and reaffirmed their commitment to completing the project within the stipulated timeframe.
The project was briefly halted after the contractor expressed concerns regarding security arrangements for foreign personnel. Following consultations involving security agencies, the Danish Embassy in Islamabad, the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), and project consultants, an agreement was reached that paved the way for the resumption of construction activities.
Speaking on the occasion, Hafiz Owais Jamal described the EWTP as a landmark environmental project that will significantly improve urban sanitation and help curb environmental pollution in Faisalabad.
The treatment plant will have the capacity to process 33 million gallons per day (MGD) of municipal and industrial wastewater. Wastewater collected from Channel 4 on the eastern side of the city will be treated and safely discharged into the Gugera Branch Canal for agricultural irrigation.
Officials said the project will play a vital role in reducing water pollution, improving public health, and protecting natural ecosystems. Currently, untreated wastewater from Faisalabad is discharged into the Madhuana Drain, which eventually flows into the River Ravi, contributing to environmental degradation and damage to aquatic life.
Upon completion, the project is expected to provide long-term environmental and public health benefits while supporting sustainable water management practices in the region.
Story by Khawar Randhawa
