Despite spending Rs4bn, Saaf Pani Company fails to supply water in Punjab, SC told

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed conceded before the Supreme Court on Sunday that a single drop of water couldn’t be made available to the people of the province despite the government having spent Rs4 billion on the Saaf Pani Project. 

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, who headed a two-judge bench of the apex court, was hearing a suo motu case pertaining to non-provision of potable water to the people of the province at Lahore registry.

The chief secretary told the judges that so far Rs4 billion had been spent on Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC), set up with an aim to ensure supply of potable water to the people, but not a single drop of water could be supplied.

Justice Nisar expressed displeasure over the authorities, saying so much money was squandered on the advertisement campaign, but the project couldn’t be completed.

He reiterated that everyone will be held to account and that he will ensure every single penny of public money is returned to the national exchequer.

Earlier, the chief justice took notice of the delay in provision of justice to the victims of the 2014 Model Town incident.

The chief justice directed the Punjab government to come up with a report, explaining the reasons behind the delay in dispensation of justice to the people affected in the incident.

He directed a provincial law officer to submit a report of the provincial authorities in this regard.

Justice Nisar took notice of the matter on a request of the daughter of a woman killed in the incident, who complained that she still awaited justice despite passage of four years.

On July 17, 2014, 14 people were killed and 100 others injured when the police opened fire to disperse protesting PAT workers during an anti-encroachment operation outside the residence of PAT chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri.