Mardan gears up for urban transformation, enhanced quality of life

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP) is set to revolutionise the urban landscape of the province, positively impacting the lives of 3.5 million residents across five key cities.

The project is part of the program approved in December 2021, when the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had approved $385 million in financing for KPCIP, with a focus on improving livability and community health in Abbottabad, Kohat, Mardan, Mingora, and Peshawar. The project encompasses the construction of clean water supply treatment facilities, sewerage treatment facilities, and the rehabilitation of dysfunctional tube wells.

In a recent meeting chaired by Commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, the progress of KPCIP projects in Mardan took center stage.

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Deputy Commissioner Captain (retired) Abdur Rehman, Water & Sanitation Service Company Mardan (WSCCM) General Manager Mohammad Khalil Akbar, Project Chief Engineer Mohammad Khalil Akbar, Executive Engineer Communication and Works (C&W) Naqib Khattak, XEN Irrigation Ahmed, along with representatives from Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Public Health, were among the attendees.

A key revelation from the briefing was that the construction of a sewage treatment plant and a solid waste landfill site in Mardan, with an estimated cost of Rs 8.5 billion, is near completion. This infrastructure development aims to propel Mardan into a more advanced state, with a focus on treating wastewater for reuse in irrigation and other essential purposes.

The sewage treatment plant, designed to cater to the six union councils of Mardan, is progressing swiftly. Upon completion, it will treat six million gallons of sewage water daily from Guli Bagh, Roryia, Muslimabad, Hoti, Bari Cham, and Bukit Ganj, making it reusable for various applications.

Commissioner Yousafzai highlighted the project’s significance, foreseeing an era of innovation and improved sanitation services for Mardan’s residents. A comprehensive waste management system under KPCIP will also be implemented, ensuring the proper collection of household waste for reuse and safe disposal of non-usable waste.

Expressing his commitment to the project’s success, Yousafzai pledged full support to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and WSSCM, emphasising the need for collaboration with all stakeholders in Mardan. He stressed the importance of maintaining high-quality standards, given the substantial national funds invested in the project, and instructed WSSCM to further enhance the city’s sanitation system.