BY AMJAD YOUSAF ZAI
HASSAN ABDAL — As many as 35 water filtration plants will be installed in different areas of tehsil Hazro during the current fiscal year to provide safe drinking water and help control waterborne diseases, officials said.
The announcement was made by Jahangir Khanzada, Member of the Punjab Chief Minister’s Monitoring Committee and former provincial minister, while speaking to journalists in Shadi Khan near Hazro. Local party representatives, including Malik Ansar Ahmed, were also present.
The installation of filtration plants is part of a Rs2.22 billion project aimed at upgrading 17 villages in Rawalpindi Division as model villages under the Annual Development Program. The initiative includes road construction and paving, improvement of streets and drains, sewerage systems, and new drinking water supply schemes.
Areas selected in Attock district
From Attock district, villages including Pind Fateh, Mithal, Kot Fateh Khan, Garshin and Jang Bhattar have been selected under the development plan.
Khanzada said filtration plants will be installed in union councils and localities including Ghourghushti, Mominpura, Mullah Kallan, Saleem Khan, Yasin, Shadi Khan, Shamsabad, Nartoppa, Darya Sharif, Qablabandani, GBC Hattain and Garhi, among others. He said the initiative aims to reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, particularly hepatitis, which has affected the area.
He added that similar filtration facilities would also be set up in Attock city, Hassan Abdal and Fateh Jang.
Education and health initiatives
Khanzada also announced that two “pink buses” have been approved for female students of Government Girls College Hazro to address transportation challenges faced by students from remote areas. The first bus is expected to begin operations on April 1, while the second will start service in June.
He said construction work on Colonel Shuja Khanzada Degree College is scheduled to begin during the current fiscal year.
On the health front, he stated that Rs56 million has been approved for the renovation and upgradation of Basic Health Units in Jalalia, Musa and Hameed. Over the past two years, Rs170 million has been allocated and spent on health facilities across Hazro tehsil.
Responding to a question, Khanzada said the government is aware of the economic difficulties faced by citizens and is working on measures to address the challenges.
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