Denmark eyes energy partnership

FAISALABAD BUREAU —Danish Ambassador to Pakistan Maja Derrous Mortensen has expressed Denmark's interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in water management, sanitation, energy, environment and civil infrastructure. During a visit to Faisalabad, she inspected the Eastern Wastewater Treatment Plant project being implemented by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Faisalabad with Danish support.

The ambassador said Denmark and Pakistan had considerable common ground for cooperation, not only in water and drainage but also in other economic sectors. She said collaboration across Punjab's 41 water and sanitation agencies could help translate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into reality.

The Danish delegation, WASA Managing Director Saqib Raza, Project Director Hafiz Owais Jamal and other officials were also present. Mortensen reviewed the progress of construction work and expressed satisfaction with its pace. She described the project as important for Faisalabad, saying its completion would help residents of the city's eastern areas overcome environmental and air pollution and provide them with a cleaner and healthier living environment.

She stressed the need for close coordination between the project team and WASA Faisalabad and expressed Denmark's willingness to support similar development initiatives in the future. The ambassador said she would also meet the Punjab government, the provincial housing minister and Housing Department officials to discuss the project and related matters.

WASA Managing Director Saqib Raza said progress on the project was satisfactory and that special attention was being given to completing it within the stipulated timeframe.