Karachi: In a significant move towards enhancing transparency and public service delivery, the Sindh Government has announced the implementation of a real-time digital monitoring system for all Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultra Filtration (UF) plants across the province. This decision emerged from a high-level meeting led by Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah, which included senior officials from the Public Health Engineering Department and other key stakeholders.
Secretary of Public Health Engineering, Syed Aijaz Ali Shah, provided a detailed briefing during the meeting. He highlighted that Sindh has a total of 2,529 water purification plants, which include 2,032 RO units and 497 UF units. The operational functionality of these plants varies significantly across the province. In the Sukkur region, 354 out of 527 plants are operational, marking a 67 percent efficiency rate. Shikarpur has a high functionality rate of 88 percent, while Jacobabad lags at 46 percent. The Shaheed Benazirabad region shows a 33 percent operational rate, with only 445 out of 1,329 plants working. Tharparkar, though having the highest number of plants (832), only has 12 percent functionality. Mirpurkhas leads with a 98 percent operational rate.
Chief Secretary Sindh emphasized the urgent need for a digital monitoring system to facilitate regular inspections and maintenance. This system will employ real-time dashboards and GPS mapping to oversee water output and filtration performance. The focus will be on reviving non-functional plants, especially in Tharparkar and Jamshoro, where performance is notably low. The digital initiative aims to boost accountability, ensure sustainable operations, and provide clean drinking water, particularly to remote and underserved areas.
Muhammad Saleem Baloch, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Public Health Engineering, noted that most of the RO plants are situated in rural and underdeveloped regions, where clean water access is a significant challenge. He mentioned that while 70 percent of the plants are operational, efforts are ongoing to restore the remaining units. A pilot project will involve local communities in managing these plants, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving water availability in remote areas.
Chief Secretary Shah also discussed the need for financial reforms and operational autonomy to enhance the management and maintenance of these plants. He reiterated the government’s dedication to resolving these issues through long-term structural changes.
The Public Health Engineering Department has been tasked with presenting a comprehensive implementation plan within two weeks for review and final approval.