Global help sought to resolve waste management issue

LAHORE: US Consul General Mrs Kristin Hawkins called on Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique at Civil Secretariat here Thursday.

Local Government and Community Development (LG&CD) department Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gull, US Political/Economic Chief Nickolas Katsakis and Political Specialist Muhammad Daim Fazil were also present.

Issues of mutual interests, particularly local government affairs, were discussed during the meeting. The American Consul General welcomed the launch of ‘Suthra Punjab’ programme by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and offered US support to the Punjab government for waste management. She said that the American expertise in the field of waste management should be taken advantage of. Kirstin Hawkins said that the process of recycling waste plays a major role in environmental change. ‘Both parties should cooperate in this regard’, she stressed. US Consul General also emphasised the need for greater role of civil society in civic affairs.

Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique told Kristin Hawkins that all people-friendly projects, including the ‘Suthra Punjab’ programme, involve political will. ‘Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz wants equal municipal services for villages and towns. New models of sanitation and waste management are necessary in current situation’, he noted. The minister also expressed his resolve that the Punjab government wanted to establish such a lasting and stable system which also gets the support of the opposition. He said that international cooperation was necessary to tackle the challenge of waste management and welcomed the US government’s offer in this regard. The minister said that for the first time, the local community is being involved in the municipal services sector. He said that committees consisting of local people, including women would be established in the villages. He said that providing online services to the citizens at their doorsteps is the focus of the chief minister.

‘Birth, death certificate, marriage registration and other facilities will be provided to the public at their doorstep’, he vowed. During the meeting, Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmad Mian told the American Consul General that the people of South Punjab have the facility of a separate independent secretariat, which has helped in solving problems at the local level. He said that 23 modern landfill sites were being identified in Punjab to dump garbage. ‘Model Municipal Projects in Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur are being successfully implemented with the support of World Bank’, secretary said.