LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique Tuesday handed over keys of 17 vehicles to Deputy Commissioner Lahore/Administrator Metropolitan Corporation Rafia Haider to provide municipal services to Lahorites smoothly.
Addressing a ceremony in this regard at Town Hall, the minister said due to shortage of vehicles troubles were being faced by authorities concerned in conducting anti-encroachment operations and providing other services to people. He said new vehicles were not purchased for the MCL for several years whereas the population of the city has increased manifold.
He said authorities were acting according to the vision of the Punjab Chief Minister to make the whole province neat and clean and in this connection an effective cleaning system is being introduced in line with the examples of the developed countries. The minister said the Punjab government has devised a mega plan for the revamping of Lahore and after the execution of the project the face of the city would be transformed in a few months. “Under the Revamping initiative, a comprehensive plan has been prepared for maintenance and provision of municipal services at every street of Lahore,” he maintained. To a question, the minister said the previous government had disrupted running local bodies overnight.
He said the PML-N has a track record of holding local government elections and it strongly believes in the LG system. “Unfortunately, even on the order of the Supreme Court, local body elections were not conducted during the previous government, but now, on the directives of Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, work was underway on the preparation of the new local body act. The minister added that a comprehensive package was underway to resolve wheat and other problems of farmers.