LAHORE: Punjab ministers on Friday said the province has significantly improved its urban flood management capacity, reducing the time required to drain rainwater during the monsoon season to one-third of previous levels through large-scale infrastructure upgrades and coordinated response efforts.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR), Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development Bilal Yasin and Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq said above-normal monsoon rainfall had tested the province’s preparedness, but timely drainage operations helped prevent prolonged urban flooding.
Bilal Yasin said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had allocated more than Rs500 billion to strengthen Punjab’s drainage infrastructure under a long-term urban development strategy. He noted that the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) network has been expanded from five major cities to 41 districts, with dedicated staff and modern machinery deployed to improve emergency response.
He said that since May 30, authorities have removed more than 650,000 tonnes of silt, cleaned 750 open drains, and cleared millions of manholes as part of a province-wide desilting campaign.
The minister said cities that previously experienced prolonged waterlogging now witness much faster drainage, highlighting Gujrat as a recent example of rapid rainwater clearance despite being a low-lying city. He added that climate change has intensified rainfall, making resilient urban infrastructure more important than ever.
Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq said the province launched its fastest-ever rainwater drainage operation following the recent heavy rains, clearing accumulated water from affected urban areas within hours.
He said the Punjab Development Programme (PDP), a Rs500 billion initiative covering 70 cities, is transforming urban infrastructure across the province. Although only about 25 percent of the programme has been completed, he said it has already enabled many cities to reduce drainage times from several days to just two to three hours after heavy rainfall.
Rafiq added that 130 underground water storage tanks have been constructed under the programme. Besides accelerating stormwater drainage, the tanks help recharge groundwater and form part of a 25-year master plan for sustainable urban development and climate resilience.
Both ministers said the government’s focus remains on strengthening urban infrastructure, improving emergency preparedness and enhancing resilience to increasingly intense monsoon rainfall driven by climate change.
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