Rawalpindi:
The Punjab Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department has decided to create three new key institutions – the water and sanitation agency (WASA), horticulture parks and authorities (PHA) and development authorities – in 36 existing districts to improve public service, development and embellishment.
Punjab currently includes 41 districts. However, the five newly created districts, including Mirurée, Talagang, Kot Addu and Nankana Sahiba, were excluded from this initiative. Currently, the development authorities work in five districts: Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan and Lahore.
WASA agencies are already operational in 15 cities. Initially, they were created in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Lahore and Multan. In the second phase, scheduled for June, approval was granted to extend WASA operations to 10 additional cities: Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Siackot, Hafizabad, Jhelum, Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang and Okara. The implementation work has already started and full operations should start with the new financial year on July 1.
Likewise, the PHAs are currently active in five cities. In the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26 – From July 1 to September 30 – AGA, WASA, and the development authorities will be established and made operational in the 36 older districts. Budget allowances to this expansion have been made.
As for the five new districts that have been left aside, the creation of these three institutions is planned for the third phase. These new districts are not yet fully autonomous, because the main departments and appointments at the district level, including district chiefs, have not been finalized.
Consequently, these areas remain in a transitional administrative state – neither fully integrated nor independent. For example, no district and sessions judge has been appointed, and police and district administrations are not yet fully autonomous.
The presidents and vice-presidents of these new institutions will be appointed among the political workers and elected members of the Punjab Assembly. Future development, embellishment and sanitation plans will be launched through these agencies and authorities.
The secretary of housing, urban development and the department of public health engineering published a notification Gazette – following the approval of the Governor of Punjab – for the creation of WASA in the 10 additional cities.
The manager of the District Development Committee, the MNA Qamar-Uul-Islam engineer, said the new exercise is dedicated to development and public service. The phas, the wasa and the development authorities are established in all the major cities of Punjab in a gradual way, he adds.
