CM Punjab Greenlights Model Village Project Expansion

LAHORE: As part of the second phase of the “Model Village Project,” Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved in principle the transformation of 7,500 communities into model villages.

The chief minister instructed authorities to submit comparative “before and after” films of each village and to provide precise deadlines for project completion while presiding over a special conference to assess progress on clean water and rural development programs.

By June 30, villages are expected to have their stagnant wastewater ponds (chhappar) cleaned. Additionally, a dedicated helpline (1336) has been set up to guarantee that problems in water filtration plants be resolved quickly.

Maryam Nawaz also ordered the cluster-based water delivery project in Rajanpur to be finished by May 15 and instructed the early completion of bottling plants in Khushab and Chishtian.

She emphasized that access to safe drinking water must be guaranteed, especially in the most impoverished and polluted places, and directed officials to promptly repair and restore any non-operational water filtering units.

“We will not accept carelessness in the restoration and repair of water filtration facilities. Every Punjabi citizen has the right to get clean drinking water, she stated.

The chief minister also mandated that septic tanks (natural water filtering systems) be finished by August 31. Water from these tanks will be used again for irrigation after desilting.

Helpline 1336 is now fully operating to handle complaints about water filtration plants, officials said to the conference.