Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh for Public Health Engineering and Rural Development Muhammad Saleem Baloch on Tuesday announced a comprehensive water supply and filtration project worth Rs 4,873.847 million for the University of Sindh, aimed at ensuring the provision of safe drinking water to the institution’s expanding population.

Speaking at a media briefing in presence of Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri, Vice-Chancellor of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Prof Dr Ikramuddin Ujjan, Secretary Public Health Engineering Sohail Ahmed Qureshi and other officials, the Special Assistant to the CM said the scheme titled “Improvement, Extension and Construction of Slow Sand Filtration System for Urban Water Supply” would cater to the university’s water needs for the next 15 years.

He said the project had been designed for a population of 77,165 people, with a daily water supply capacity of 2.546 million gallons, based on a per capita consumption of 30 gallons per day. The system would ensure uninterrupted availability of filtered water across academic blocks, hostels and residential areas of the university. It will cater the water needs of 43000 students, enrolled at the University of Sindh.

Detailing the project, Mr. Baloch said it included construction of pump houses, installation of high-capacity pumping machinery and lying of extensive pipeline networks. A 24-inch diameter rising main of 1,000 running feet would be laid from the KB feeder to storage tanks, while a 14,000 running feet delivery main would connect the source to the main university water works.

He said pumping machinery comprising 75 BHP (three sets), 130 BHP (three sets) and 100 BHP (six sets) would be installed at various points to ensure efficient water transmission. Two large storage tanks measuring 320x310 feet with an 8-foot depth and two clear water tanks measuring 200x105 feet with a 10-foot depth would also be constructed.

“The project further includes construction of five RCC filter beds (150x85 feet, up to six feet deep) to provide slow sand filtration, along with a modern distribution system extending tens of thousands of running feet through pipelines of different diameters,” he said and added that additional facilities would include staff quarters, sump wells, interconnections and 400,000 square feet of paver blocks.

“Water treatment components such as an alum chamber and hypo-chlorinator would also be installed to ensure safe drinking water standards,’ he said.

“The scheme also covers railway and road crossings over 700 running feet, repair of three existing clear water tanks and three storage tanks at the source, construction of a 4,180 running feet compound wall, installation of 22 solar street lights and placement of signboards,” he said.

The Chief Minister’s Special Assistant termed the project a major step towards improving basic infrastructure at the university and addressing long-standing water issues faced by students and staff. He said the government was committed to ensuring sustainable and quality water supply systems across educational institutions in the province.

He further said that the project will complete in a short span of 2 years, adding that the project would be executed under their supervision and would significantly enhance water quality and availability at the campus.

Talking to media on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri said that the Sindh government’s decision to launch a modern water filtration and supply project reflected its strong commitment to improving basic facilities in public sector universities.

He termed the initiative a historic step and added that access to clean drinking water would significantly enhance the academic and residential environment at the University of Sindh.

He appreciated the Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Muhammad Saleem Baloch and stated that the project would resolve long-standing water issues faced by students, faculty and staff.

He noted that the provision of filtered water through a scientifically designed system would ensure better health standards across the campus.

Dr Marri expressed confidence that the project would support the university’s future expansion and meet the growing needs of its population in a sustainable manner.

Earlier, the Special Assistant alongside VC SU, Secretary Public Health Engineering and other officials visited the site and pumping station at KB Feeder.