Lahore to build Pakistan's largest wastewater treatment plant

Lahore (Web Desk): The approval for the establishment of Pakistan's largest wastewater treatment plant in Lahore has been granted, aiming to treat the city's sewage water and safely discharge it into the Ravi River using environmentally friendly methods.

The Babu Sabu Wastewater Treatment Plant has been approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP). The project will be carried out in collaboration with the French financial institution AFD (Agence Française de Développement), with a total estimated cost of PKR 52 billion.

In the initial phase, sewage water from areas like Cantonment Drain, Multan Road, and Gulshan Ravi will be treated. This phase will treat 88 million gallons of water per day, while the plant's total daily capacity will be 198 million gallons. According to a spokesperson from the Housing Department, 836 acres of land were acquired for this project at the Babu Sabu location back in 1992-93. The spokesperson also mentioned that the project will be completed in approximately 4.5 years.

The spokesperson further explained that to treat Lahore's entire sewage system according to environmental standards, a total of six wastewater treatment plants will be needed. The Babu Sabu plant will be the first and largest part of this initiative.

Environmental experts and urban planning circles have hailed this initiative as a major step toward reducing pollution, preserving underground water, and revitalizing the Ravi River.