Lahore’s long-stalled Babu Sabu Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) has taken a major step forward after the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) approved the Rs. 50.2 billion project.
The plan will now be sent to the federal government for final clearance from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
The project, backed by France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD), will be the first large-scale wastewater treatment facility for the city. It aligns with WASA Lahore’s master plan and aims to curb pollution in the Ravi River.
Originally proposed in the early 1990s, the scheme faced repeated delays despite WASA acquiring more than 800 acres of land for it in 1992–93. The provincial government revived it this year, giving new hope that construction will finally begin.
In its first phase, sewage from central Lahore — including waste from the Cantt Drain, Multan Road, and Gulshan-i-Ravi pumping stations — will be treated before release into the Ravi. Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has called the project part of her administration’s environment-friendly initiatives.
Officials say the WWTP will treat 88 million gallons per day (MGD) initially, with a capacity of 198 MGD once fully operational. It will be built under a design, build, and operate (DBO) model with advanced systems for sludge treatment, odor control, and biogas utilization.
