Punjab Approves PKR 50bn Babu Sabu Wastewater Treatment Plant

Lahore: The Punjab government has given the green light to the long-awaited PKR 50 billion Babu Sabu Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), a landmark project designed to stop untreated sewage from flowing into the River Ravi.

The approval came during a recent meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP). According to officials, the long-pending project will be financed with French assistance and implemented by the Punjab government, with final approval to be sought from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

In its first phase, the Babu Sabu WWTP will have the capacity to treat 88 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater. Once operational, it will play a vital role in curbing river pollution, safeguarding aquatic life, and improving water quality for communities that rely on the Ravi.

Experts have consistently highlighted untreated sewage as one of Lahore’s most pressing environmental and public health concerns. The WWTP is being hailed as a transformative step toward upgrading the city’s infrastructure and meeting global standards in urban wastewater management.

Officials added that the initiative will also support Pakistan in fulfilling its environmental obligations while cutting long-term costs linked to waterborne diseases and ecological damage.