LAHORE: The Punjab government has directed the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Lahore to develop a comprehensive drainage strategy for eastern Lahore following recent heavy rainfall and drainage problems across several parts of the city.
The directive was issued during a meeting chaired by Housing Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The proposed plan will cover the corridor extending from the Cantonment and airport areas toward Gujjumatta.
Authorities have agreed to work toward an integrated drainage network rather than addressing individual drainage points separately. A joint committee involving representatives of the Pakistan Army’s Housing Wing and the Punjab Housing Department will oversee coordination, particularly in areas where responsibilities for land and infrastructure are divided between different authorities.
The proposed upgrade is expected to go beyond routine drain cleaning. Officials have called for the widening and desilting of the Hudiara and Charrar drains, removal of encroachments affecting waterways and improvements to the wider rainwater disposal system.
The Hudiara Drain is particularly significant because of its role in carrying stormwater through parts of eastern Lahore before ultimately connecting with the Ravi River. Its maintenance has historically involved the provincial Irrigation Department, adding another layer of coordination to the proposed drainage strategy.
The government’s decision follows recent periods of heavy rainfall that exposed drainage weaknesses in several eastern Lahore localities. Areas around the Hudiara Drain, including Sundar, have experienced rainwater accumulation and flooding during intense weather events, increasing pressure on authorities to improve the area’s drainage capacity.
No detailed project budget, final engineering design or completion schedule has been announced so far. The effectiveness of the initiative will therefore depend on the development of a coordinated plan and its implementation by the relevant departments.
For residents and property owners across eastern Lahore, improved drainage could help reduce the disruption and flood risks associated with intense rainfall. However, the current announcement represents a planning and coordination initiative rather than completed infrastructure work, and further details will be needed to assess its eventual impact on the area’s residential and commercial development.
