RAWALPINDI: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) in Rawalpindi has opened bids for four water supply projects as part of the Developing Resilient Environment and Advancing Municipal Services Phase-I initiative.
These projects are financially backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with the provincial government receiving a loan of $107 million for their execution.
It is worth noting that the federal government initially applied for funding for these projects, which were approved by the caretaker government in January.
Three of these projects are focused on water supply, while the fourth is dedicated to assessing groundwater availability in Rawalpindi.
Besides, the bidding companies, both local and international, are expected to submit their proposals by November 1.
The ADB loan agreement, which was greenlit during the tenure of the PDM on August 6, was finalized after a delegation from the Punjab caretaker government visited the ADB headquarters to agree on terms and conditions.
In terms of project allocation, an international firm will be hired for the construction of a water treatment plant at Chahan Dam, while local firms will be tasked with implementing the remaining projects.
Wasa Managing Director Tanveer Ahmed has stated that funding from the ADB is expected in November, and work on these projects is set to commence in January after the tendering process concludes.
As part of the initiative, an in-depth study will be conducted to assess underground water availability, providing valuable insights for sustainable groundwater management over the next decade.
Source: DAWN
