PESHAWAR
In order to enhance capacity for implementing effective drinking water supply and sanitation projects in tribal districts, a consultative workshop on Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP) Phase-II was held here on Saturday.
Sector Reforms Unit (SRU), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) in collaboration with the Merged Area Governance Program (MAGP) under United Nations Development Program (UNDP) organized the workshop.
Besides, Chief Engineer (Centre) PHED Gul Shahid, Chief Engineer SRU Ishrat Ali and Dr Rashid Rehan, Sector Specialist MAGP, the workshop was attended by Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and other senior officials of Public Health Engineering Department.
Speaking at the workshop, Gul Shahid, Chief Engineer, PHED termed the workshop a very beneficial for consultation, preparation and formulation of drinking water supply and sanitation projects under AIP -II Phase following the achievements and experiences gained in the first phase of AIP.
He expressed hope that the quality of services of PHED field staff being delivered in the tribal districts would be enhanced and more useful by improving & rehabilitating the existing water supply and drainage infrastructures and managing the process of solarization.
Ishrat Ali, Chief Engineer Sector Reforms Unit, PHED determined that besides formulating and allocating funds for such a wide range of projects for the merged districts, the availability of required staff, capacity and resources of the department for these areas be kept in mind and increased so that better results could be ensured.
He also shared his experience, suggesting that the combination of many projects under Umbrella PC-1 affects the speed and overall efficiency of implementation of such projects, so plans should be prepared at district level.
He further proposed that if large scale water supply schemes are being constructed to extract underground water reservoirs, then measures should be taken to recharge these reservoirs and stabilize the underwater table by constructing small dams etc.
Dr Rashid Rehan, Sector Specialist MAGP, informed the participants that out of 1268 projects worth Rs 4.61 billion, 337 have been completed while the rest are under construction.
He further said that new plans have also been proposed in light of the experiences and results gained from the first phase of AIP, adding that considerations have been given to improve the drainage and ensure effective implementation of sanitation projects including construction of sewerage system, pavement of drains and paths, storage of rainwater for irrigation purpose in urban areas of these districts under second phase of AIP.
While speaking on the occasion, other participants in the workshop also shared their experiences, practices and opinions and said that the involvement of the department in the process of identifying projects under public needs would help in achieving better results, sustainability and effective implementation of these projects.
