Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan

The Punjab Cabinet has approved Rs 3.7965 billion in funds for the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) on the recommendation of the housing secretary.
Under WASA Phase III, the agency will purchase modern machinery, including high-pressure jetting machines to clear and restore blocked sewer lines. Suction and desilting equipment will also be acquired to remove waste from the sewerage network.

Dewatering pumps and mobile drainage machinery will be added to WASA’s fleet to help drain rainwater promptly. The procurement plan also includes water pumps and other mechanical equipment to improve the supply of drinking water to residents.

The government said the funding aims to modernise Lahore’s sewerage, drainage and water supply systems and improve municipal services for residents.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the launch of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) Blind Dolphin Resort at Taunsa Barrage in Kot Addu. The 120-kanal facility sits along the River Indus and is intended to give visitors a chance to experience the area’s landscape and, when dolphins are visible, observe the rare Indus blind dolphin in its natural habitat.

Maryam described the resort as an eco-friendly destination developed to tourism standards. She said it brings together hospitality services, terrace views and dining, alongside a commitment to wildlife conservation. The announcement did not give details about visitor opening dates, operating hours, booking arrangements or charges.

The site’s land history predates the launch announcement. In November 2020, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported that TDCP was in the process of acquiring 120 kanals near Taunsa Barrage for a proposed tourism project estimated at Rs 100 million. Plans outlined at the time included camping, huts, food and shopping facilities, and a blind-dolphin viewing point.

In May 2022, another APP report said an eco-tourism and culture project was under way at Taunsa Barrage on 120 kanals, with an estimated cost of Rs 118 million. Planned facilities included a gazebo, restaurant, boat-parking area, dolphin point and lake. These earlier reports trace the land and project planning behind the resort announced this month, but do not establish when the acquisition was completed or the final cost of the facility now launched. The site is in an area associated with the Indus dolphin. The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department lists the Indus blind dolphin as critically endangered and says it inhabits the Indus and its tributaries. The department also lists Taunsa Barrage as a wildlife sanctuary.

The resort’s success will depend on how visitor facilities are managed alongside protection of the river habitat. The chief minister has presented wildlife conservation as part of the project, while the department’s conservation information underscores the sensitivity of the species and its habitat.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has handed over an apartment in Rawalpindi to provide accommodation for minority students. Located on Seventh Road, the apartment will house 12 students, who will receive free accommodation and all essential facilities, according to the board.

ETPB Secretary Nasir Mushtaq handed over the keys to the students on the instructions of Chairman Qamar-uz-Zaman. Rawalpindi Administrator Yasir Asghar Monga was also present. Mushtaq said the initiative aims to ease the housing difficulties students face during their studies and give them a better environment in which to focus on their education.

The board said the welfare of minority communities, educational development and provision of basic facilities were among its priorities. The Ministry of Religious Affairs says the ETPB was established in 1960 to oversee evacuee properties linked to religious, charitable and educational trusts. The board had earlier approved Rs 5 million for the Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship Programme for Hindu and Sikh students. Under the programme, eligible students receive a monthly scholarship of Rs 10,000, according to the board.