Punjab deploys AI, heavy machinery in massive monsoon drainage drive across 41 districts

• More than 1,000 machines, thousands of Wasa workers mobilized as government intensifies province-wide rain response

• Punjab CM says AI-powered monitoring, 300 surveillance cameras and a centralized dashboard deployed to accelerate drainage operations

• Says personally oversees coordinated rescue and drainage efforts as monsoon rains continue

• Over 400 km of sewer lines, 700 km of drains and 225,000 manholes cleaned to curb urban flooding

 LAHORE: The Punjab government has intensified drainage and emergency response operations across the province amid continuing monsoon rains, deploying advanced machinery, AI-assisted monitoring systems and thousands of field workers to accelerate rainwater removal and minimize urban flooding, according to an official handout issued on Sunday.

The handout said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's vision and leadership had strengthened drainage operations in Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) districts through the induction of modern machinery. More than 1,000 machines and thousands of WASA workers have been deployed across Punjab to keep drainage operations running round the clock during the ongoing monsoon spell.

Acting on the chief minister's directions, authorities are digitally monitoring rainwater accumulation through 300 modern surveillance cameras, while an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system, integrated with the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, is being used to identify stagnant rainwater and facilitate timely response.

According to the handout, the chief minister is personally overseeing coordinated efforts involving the district administration, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Rescue 1122 and WASA. It added that underpasses in Lahore and other cities are being monitored around the clock through a digital surveillance system during rainfall to ensure swift drainage and uninterrupted traffic flow.

وزیرِ اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کی ہدایت پر واسا کی 41 اضلاع تک توسیع ۔ جدید مشینری اور اے آئی بیسڈ ڈیجیٹل مانیٹرنگ کے لیے واسا ہیڈ آفس میں کمانڈ اینڈ کنٹرول روم قائم ۔
بارشی پانی کی ڈی سلٹنگ اور ڈسپوزل اسٹیشن کی مانیٹرنگ کے لیے پنجاب سیف سٹی،پی ڈی ایم اے اور ریسکیو 1122 کے ساتھ… pic.twitter.com/rme8CDDoJC

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 26, 2026

Field operations in WASA districts are continuing without interruption, with teams remaining on duty throughout the prolonged monsoon season. Workers equipped with dewatering sets, sucker machines and other drainage equipment are carrying out operations, while monsoon emergency relief camps have been established in every city.

The handout said WASA teams are actively engaged in drainage operations in Lahore, Attock, Chakwal, Murree, Taunsa, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Narowal, Bhakkar, Layyah, Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Sargodha, Nankana Sahib, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Khushab, Chiniot, Lodhran, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Pakpattan, Hafizabad and Rahim Yar Khan.

وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کی ہدایت پر "سوہنا پنجاب پروگرام" کے تحت 31 شہروں میں سیوریج و سینیٹیشن نظام کی جدید خطوط پر بحالی، جدید مشینری کی فیلڈ میں تعیناتی اور پنجاب سیف سٹیز کیمروں کے ذریعے بارش کی مؤثر مانیٹرنگ سے نکاسی آب کا نظام مزید فعال بنایا جا رہا ہے۔ یہ جدید نظام… pic.twitter.com/sGlMZzsGUC

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 26, 2026

 According to the handout, 400 kilometres of sewerage lines, more than 700 kilometres of drains and over 225,000 manholes have been cleaned on the chief minister's directives, with the government saying the large-scale maintenance campaign has begun producing positive results.

It said newly established WASA districts have been equipped with dewatering sets, sucker machines, sewer jetting machines, wheel excavators, sewer desilting machines, water bowsers and cranes to strengthen their emergency response capacity. A centralized dashboard has also been made fully operational, while rainfall data is being compiled through 134 rain gauges across the province.

The handout claimed residents from several districts were expressing satisfaction with the improved response, saying citizens in Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore and Rawalpindi had appreciated drainage operations that completed work within hours instead of taking weeks.

 Drainage, rescue operations continue across 41 districts

Meanwhile, drainage, cleaning and rescue operations continued across 41 districts of Punjab following monsoon rains, with the Local Government Department, WASA, Suthra Punjab, district administrations and other relevant departments jointly participating in the province-wide response.

In Lahore, rainwater was swiftly drained from M.A. Jinnah Road, Ravi Road and other major arteries, restoring the normal flow of traffic.

In Gujranwala, Lala Zar Colony, Jinnah Road, Civil Lines Shamsi Underpass and Sheikhupura Road were reopened to traffic after accumulated rainwater was cleared.

In Hafizabad, drainage and cleaning operations were completed on DHQ Road, Jalalpur Bhattian Road, Kalma Chowk, Kutchery Road, Sukheke Road and Sharjah Chowk following the prompt removal of rainwater.

The handout added that drainage operations had also been completed in streets, markets and residential areas of Sargodha, where cleaning work has now commenced.

Similarly, roads in Sambrial and Pasrur in Sialkot district have been cleared after drainage operations, allowing traffic to return to normal.

The handout said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was personally monitoring the ongoing province-wide operation to ensure uninterrupted drainage, rescue and relief efforts across all districts during the monsoon season.