Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) will be expanded from its current presence in four districts to 23 districts across the province.
She said institutions like WASA and the Suthra Punjab sanitation programme are helping improve living standards and public health across Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz shared these views during a meeting with German Ambassador Anna Lepel, where discussions focused on bilateral relations, post-flood rehabilitation, climate resilience, modern agriculture, green technologies, workforce training, and education reforms.
Welcoming the envoy, the chief minister thanked Germany for its solidarity and swift assistance after the devastating floods. She emphasised that environmental protection is one of her government’s top priorities and highlighted the importance of German expertise in tackling cross-border challenges such as smog and flooding.
She also noted Germany’s successful dual vocational training system, calling for greater collaboration to introduce this model in Punjab. Appreciating Germany’s longstanding role in women’s empowerment, social welfare, human development, and green technology, she said Pakistan values its strategic partnership.
According to her, Pakistan-Germany trade reached $3.63 billion in 2024, with a surplus in Pakistan’s favour. Currently, 40 German companies are operating in Pakistan, creating employment opportunities. She urged that these ties be further strengthened at the provincial level.
The meeting also touched on academic cooperation, Pakistani students in Germany, and curriculum development. Maryam Nawaz lauded the Anna Marie Schimmel House in Lahore for its contributions and welcomed Germany’s support in sports promotion, pointing to the recent tour of the German Junior Hockey Team as a starting point for further exchanges.
On the flood situation, she said simultaneous high flooding in three rivers and weeks of continuous rainfall had devastated Punjab, but timely evacuation and relief operations saved millions of lives. Around 2.2 million animals were shifted to safer locations, while field hospitals, mobile health units, and relief camps played a vital role in protecting public health.
Ambassador Lepel also toured the WASA Expo, where she praised the Punjab government’s efforts, particularly in rural areas despite the widespread flood damage.
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