Technology

Chinese companies to install smart water meters in Lahore

Chinese companies to install smart water meters in Lahore

The Punjab government and consortium of three Chinese companies signed a concession agreement through “XINLANG Lahore Water Metering (SMC-Private) Limited” under which a Special Purpose Vehicle will be created for the project.

Chinese consortium is consist of the companies M/s Wenling Younio Water Meter Co. Ltd, M/s Jiangsu Xinlang Environmental Company (Private) Ltd., and M/s China Energy Engineering Group Jiangsu No.3 Electric Power Construction Co. Ltd. 

Addressing the MoU signing ceremony, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar stated that this project is fore-runner initiative under public private partnership (PPP) mode in Pakistan taken by the Government of Punjab and will be replicated in the provincial metropolis after successful implementation in Lahore. 

He acknowledged the efforts of the Planning and Development Board (P&D), WASA Lahore, Punjab PPP Authority and, allied departments adding that despite rupee-dollar parity, the pace of work continued to make this project successful. 

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As per details, the total cost of the project is Rs9.3 billion while 711,265 water meters (93 percent domestic and 7 percnet commercial) will be installed in Lahore. 

The establishment of the local manufacturing unit to assemble water meters will create employment opportunities for the youth of Lahore. 

Chairman Planning and Development Board declared the project as a revolutionary plan and the first of its kind to be launched in Pakistan in collaboration with private partners. 

He said that the signing ceremony will boost the confidence of the private sector and will pave the way for the successful implementation of mega road sector PPP projects which are currently under-bidding.

Managing Director WASA Lahore informed that that presently WASA is sending bills based on the size of the consumers’ houses, but after meter installation, they would be charged for their actual usage, and no one would have to pay the extra bill. 

Replying to a query, he said meters installation would minimize wastage of water and maintain its quality as people would be conscious about any leakage and report it. It would also stop the practice of extracting more groundwater and help maintain its level.

Chief Executive Officer Punjab PPP Authority congratulated the citizens of Lahore and highlighted that every consumer of Lahore, either domestic or commercial, will benefit from the initiative. He informed the media that the signing ceremony is a major milestone achieved and declared that in this context completion of projects under the public-private partnership is the best course of action. 

He claimed that under the leadership of the current government, Punjab PPP Authority will increase the development portfolio of Punjab by executing PPPs across multiple sectors.

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