LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has set June 2027 as the deadline for completing 5,734 water filtration plants across the province, reaffirming the government’s commitment to providing safe drinking water to every citizen.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Chairing a special meeting of the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority, the chief minister assigned responsibility for monitoring filtration plants to the respective assistant commissioners. Public committees will also be established under their supervision to oversee the functioning of plants in local neighbourhoods.
The meeting decided to establish mobile maintenance units in every tehsil to ensure the timely repair and rehabilitation of filtration plants. Each unit will be equipped with plumbers and technical staff to maintain the facilities and ensure uninterrupted access to clean drinking water.
Maryam also approved the Last-Mile Water Supply Project to improve access to drinking water in the worst-affected areas of Chakwal, Rajanpur and Rawalpindi. Water supply schemes covering 256 kilometres in Chakwal and 1,780 kilometres in Rajanpur will be prioritised.
The chief minister was briefed on water bottling plants operating in Khushab, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur, which collectively produce 10,000 bottles of 19 litres each daily.
The CM Water Bottling Project is reportedly benefiting 4.8 million people, with more than 75,000 water bottles delivered to households under the initiative.
Maryam said access to clean drinking water was a fundamental right and expressed satisfaction that the provincial government had begun delivering safe drinking water directly to households. She added that similar water supply schemes would be introduced in other areas after the initial focus on Chakwal, Rajanpur and Rawalpindi, ensuring that residents no longer had to travel long distances to collect drinking water.
Punjab to Launch Film City on December 15
Separately, Punjab is preparing to launch Pakistan’s first state-of-the-art Film City on December 15 as part of a major initiative to revive the province’s cinematic heritage and establish it as a centre for filmmaking, drama, culture and tourism.
The initiative, being developed under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, aims to attract investment, support local filmmakers and restore Lahore’s position as a leading hub of the film industry.
The chief minister has approved a 35% rebate for Punjabi films and a 20% rebate for Urdu films produced in Punjab to encourage local productions and strengthen the provincial film sector.
The decisions were taken at the first meeting of the Punjab Film Authority, chaired by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. The meeting approved several measures to modernise filmmaking, attract investment and promote the province’s cultural heritage.
Maryam also approved the formulation of Pakistan’s first royalty law for the film industry and directed that the proposed legislation be presented at the next meeting of the Punjab Film Authority.
The proposed Film City will include a film and music school, a film museum, a film trading house, post-production facilities, a studio complex, modern film studios and Pakistan’s largest convention centre.
The meeting also approved an online, one-window facility to help filmmakers identify suitable shooting locations. Meanwhile, the Film City Authority’s proposed budget of more than Rs589 million for the 2026-27 financial year was referred to the financing committee for review.
Approval was granted to recruit 26 employees in the first phase against 53 sanctioned positions, with the authority’s board empowered to appoint and dismiss staff.
The meeting reviewed progress on the establishment of six committees, including the Punjab Film Fund Committee, and approved measures to restore old cinemas, install solar power systems and provide affordable entertainment facilities. An online cinema booking system will also be introduced.
To develop local talent, the authority approved a training programme for young filmmakers, with international experts expected to provide instruction in modern filmmaking techniques.
Addressing the meeting, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the chief minister wanted Punjab to become a destination for international-standard screen tourism within five years.
She said the province’s distinctive culture and rich heritage would be showcased internationally through films and other audiovisual productions.
“Film City is a complete ecosystem for reviving the film industry, attracting investment, creating employment opportunities and providing quality and affordable entertainment to the public,” she said.
Story by Sher Ali Khalti
