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Lahore, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique has announced that cell points for sacrificial animals will be functional across Punjab from today (June 7). To provide relief to the public, the sale points will be operated on a no-profit, no-loss basis. During his visit to Faisalabad with Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Political Affairs Zeeshan Ashiq Malik, while presiding over a meeting of district officers and public representatives at the commissioner’s office, he said that for effective cleaning arrangements on Eid-ul-Azha, the leaves of municipal staff have been banned for 13 days. This ban will start 10 days before and three days after the Eid.
According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, during the meeting at the Commissioner’s office, a detailed review of the Suthra Punjab program and the Eid cleaning plan was conducted. Commissioner Faisalabad Madam Silwat Saeed, Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Neyar Sheikh, and chief officers of municipal bodies gave briefings.
Addressing the meeting, Provincial Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique said that the goal of the Suthra Punjab program is to dump more than 57 thousand tons of garbage produced daily across the province. “Like other modern countries of the world, Punjab also needs to implement a long-lasting sanitation system. Outsourcing model is being introduced for the purpose,” he stated. He added that the process of pre-qualification of outsourcing for a standard cleaning system has been completed. Zeeshan Rafique further said that for the first time, a uniform sanitation system for both urban and rural areas is being introduced. “Previously, municipal services never reached the villages even though the majority of the population lives in the villages,” he noted.
He said that with the efforts of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, rural areas are also being focused on. “If the sanitation program is outsourced, the available human resources will be entrusted to the contractors; however,” he clarified that the performance of each contractor will be monitored by the Punjab government itself. “Sanitation facilities will not be compromised,” he pledged. Local Government Minister said that, one sentry worker will be assigned for every 250 households. “Besides, five new modern landfill sites are being established across Punjab, of which one landfill site will also be set up in Faisalabad district,” he said.
Zeeshan Rafique said that preparations are also being made to deal with the possible challenges of outsourcing. “A nominal fee will be charged for garbage collection and street cleaning,” he said. He further mentioned that monitoring committees will be established in urban and rural areas for an effective sanitation system. He warned that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered zero waste in cities on Eid-ul-Azha. “So there is no room for any laxity in this regard,” said the minister. He also directed the district officers to share the cleanliness plan with the concerned members of the assembly, ticket holders, and media. The provincial minister also praised the good results of the first phase of Suthra Punjab across the division under the Commissioner Faisalabad Silwat Saeed.
On this occasion, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Zeeshan Malik, while issuing instructions regarding the Suthra Punjab program and Eid plan, said that PML-N ticket holders are also an important part of the government team. “We will take them along in the process of public service and betterment,” he emphasized. Zeeshan Malik said that the cooperation of public representatives is essential in construction and development and public welfare measures. Commissioner Faisalabad Silwat Saeed, while briefing the Provincial Minister and Special Assistant, said that as per the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Faisalabad administration is ready to achieve the goals. “In the first phase of Suthra Punjab programme, Faisalabad Division was among the top divisions. Even after outsourcing, we will perform our responsibilities efficiently,” she assured.