LAHORE: Managing Director WASA Lahore has assured the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry that work to address sewerage and drainage problems in Rehman Galian, Brandreth Road and other commercial areas will be initiated soon in response to the demand of LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani.
He was addressing a meeting chaired by LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar. LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani and Vice President Khadim Hussain Chaudhry also spoke at the meeting. Discussions focused on sewerage blockages, water accumulation during the monsoon, financial losses suffered by traders, complaint resolution and improvements in drainage infrastructure.
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar said that sewerage blockages and rainwater accumulation in commercial and industrial areas were disrupting business activities and causing substantial financial losses to traders. Water entering shops, warehouses and basements damages merchandise and commercial property, creating serious difficulties for the business community.
He stressed that commercial areas must receive priority in drainage improvement projects. Regular cleaning of sewerage lines, maintenance of manholes and timely preventive measures before the monsoon season were essential to prevent waterlogging and protect businesses from recurring losses.
Ali Hussam Asghar also called for better coordination among WASA, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and other relevant departments to ensure that development projects were completed on time. He invited the MD WASA to visit the affected markets with LCCI representatives to assess the problems firsthand and develop practical solutions.
LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani highlighted the persistent sewerage and drainage problems in Rehman Galian and Brandreth Road, stressing that an effective drainage system was essential for smooth commercial activity.
He said water accumulation during heavy rainfall threatened shops, warehouses and basements, exposing traders to substantial financial losses. He urged the WASA to prioritise sewerage improvements in these markets, increase drainage capacity where required and ensure the regular cleaning of sewerage lines.
Sardar Usman Ghani emphasised that the problems must be addressed through permanent solutions rather than temporary measures. He called for the completion of essential drainage arrangements before the monsoon season, including sewerage line cleaning and proper maintenance of manholes.
He further stressed the need for consultation with market representatives so that problems could be identified accurately and resolved through a coordinated plan. He said timely action by the relevant authorities would help protect commercial property, minimise business disruption and prevent recurring drainage problems.
The MD WASA informed the meeting that the authority had issued a development tender worth from its own resources to address water accumulation and drainage problems along Circular Road and adjoining areas. The tender was scheduled to be opened on October 15.
He said WASA had also undertaken development work in various locations, including Lakshmi Chowk and Brandreth Road, using its own resources during the previous year. He assured the business community that the authority would continue reviewing drainage problems in commercial areas and take appropriate measures to resolve them.
The MD WASA said that regular maintenance, timely cleaning of sewerage lines and effective coordination among relevant departments were essential alongside development projects to improve the city’s drainage system.
Highlighting WASA’s digital services, the MD said the authority had introduced an automated complaint management system through which consumers could register complaints online and monitor progress on their resolution.
He added that online facilities were also available for correcting billing errors and requesting installment plans, reducing the need for consumers to visit WASA offices repeatedly. Digital records had also improved access to consumer accounts and property-related information.
The MD WASA offered to designate a focal person to coordinate with LCCI and facilitate the resolution of complaints from commercial markets. He said requests relating to billing corrections and installment plans would also be addressed through the relevant procedures.
He further assured the Chamber that he would personally monitor progress and endeavour to provide LCCI with an update within 10 days.
The MD WASA stressed the importance of protecting groundwater, describing it as a valuable natural resource that must be preserved for future generations. He urged industrial and commercial consumers to reduce unnecessary water consumption and reuse treated wastewater wherever possible.
He said discharging untreated industrial wastewater into the sewerage system created environmental problems and increased the resources required for wastewater treatment. Cooperation between industry, WASA and other relevant departments was therefore essential to promote responsible water use and effective wastewater management.
The MD also referred to a wastewater treatment project in Shalimar and projects aimed at improving sewerage and drainage infrastructure in central Lahore. He said modern technology, effective planning and coordination among relevant departments would help address the city’s drainage challenges.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026