Maryam oversees ‘zero waste mission’on Eid days

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Wednesday met the Ambassador of Spain to Pakistan Josè Antonio de Ory and discussed investment opportunities in the province with him.

“We are keen to promote investment and trade ties with Spain,” she said adding “Punjab has rich investment opportunities for Spanish business community in textiles, food processing, agriculture and livestock.” The Spanish delegation also included the Honorary Consul of Spain Jalal Salahuddin. The meeting also discussed the promotion of bilateral ties between Punjab and Spain in trade, investment, education, culture and tourism. Maryam Nawaz said: “Foreign investors are being provided with the best environment for safe investment in Punjab. The trend of increasing trade volume between Pakistan and Spain is welcome.” The meeting also discussed investment opportunities in infrastructure and renewable energy. The need to increase joint efforts in strengthening mutual relations was also emphasized in the meeting. The Spanish ambassador expressed deep interest in promoting a strong economic partnership with Punjab.

Separately, on the instructions of CM Maryam Nawaz, a unique record of public service was set with the successful completion of waste disposal mission during the last 72 hours on Eidul Azha across the province. She monitored every zero waste mission task on all three days of the Eid. For the first time in Lahore, the new innovative tradition of sanitation monitoring was established with the help of drone technology and safe city cameras. The bad practice of throwing offal into the Lahore canal decreased by 80 per cent on Eid days.

Provincial Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, secretaries of various departments, district administration, and waste management officials visited the field and monitored the process. They also distributed Eid gifts among the staff on behalf of CM Maryam Nawaz. Extraordinary cleaning of mosques, Eidgahs, Imambargahs, bazaars, roads, intersections and streets was ensured. Special guards were appointed to protect the public, especially children on canals. Monitoring also continued in control rooms at the provincial, divisional and district levels.

For the first time, more than 32 lakh biodegradable bags were distributed across Punjab. On Eid day, the relevant staff and authorities remained active in all major cities, tehsils and towns to pick up the offal of sacrificial animals. On the second and third days of Eid, the waste mission staff continued their cleanliness drive with full determination. Four special drone teams of Lahore Waste Management Company continued the continuous monitoring process. A fine of Rs280,000 was collected for throwing garbage into the canal, while notices were also issued to citizens for violating the standard operating procedures.

Maryam felicitated the officers and staff of Lahore Waste Management Company. She also expressed gratitude to the elected representatives and party leaders across Punjab for their support in the cleanliness drive. CM Maryam Nawaz also announced a one-month salary as a reward to the staff involved in the three-day special cleaning campaign.

Maryam Nawaz also directed the relevant authorities to ensure compliance with fixed transport fares given the return of passengers on the culmination of the Eid holidays. She ordered a crackdown against those found involved in receiving extra fare from passengers in Lahore and other cities of the province.

Meanwhile, CM Maryam Nawaz expressed her deep sorrow and grief over the loss of human lives in a traffic accident in Sheikhupura. She also expressed her deep sorrow and grief over the death of children due to burns in Faisalabad.