Sanitation system in Punjab being outsourced, says minister

LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique has said that the sanitation system in Punjab is going to be outsourced.

Like the ideal cleaning plan on Eidul Azha, the outsourcing model under supervision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif will also be successful. While presiding over a video link meeting of the CEOs of the waste management companies across the province held at the civil secretariat, he said that after the outsourcing of the cleanliness system, our responsibility will not end but will increase on the contrary.

"Outsourcing process at all level will be strictly monitored", he vowed. Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmad Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gul and CEO of Lahore Waste Management Company Babar Sahib Din also attended the meeting. Local Government Minister directed all the CEOs to complete the pre-qualification process for private companies by June 28 and added that the local bodies and all waste management companies have made the impossible work possible by ensuring quality cleanliness on Eidul Azha.

"Due to this, people's trust in government institutions increased manifold. Now the same spirit has to be maintained in normal days also", he said. Zeeshan Rafique further said that in the first phase, each waste management company will start a model project in one tehsil of each district. He reiterated his commitment that companies with good reputation and reputation would be chosen for the cleaning work.

"Under the outsourcing plan, not only the door-to-door waste collection will be done, but there will also be sweeping of each area twice a week and de-silting of drains once in a week", he said.

The minister said that on the directions from the chief minister, a uniform cleanliness system will be implemented in villages and cities. "We will introduce such a sanitation system in Punjab which will be a role model for the rest of the country" he pledged.

He emphasised that public participation is essential in the cleaning onprocess. "The imams will be requested to extend their cooperation for spreading public awareness. "Imams of mosques will berequested to fix at least five minutes for talk on the importance of cleanliness during the Friday sermon", he suggested. Zeeshan Rafique directed the CEOs to install permanent containers for waste collection at big villages.

On this occasion, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian said that with hard work and passion, the experience of outsourcing has to be successful. He directed that the sites for waste dumping should be selected soon. It was decided during the meeting that the CEOs of all the waste management companies should be called to Lahore on Monday (today) to review the progress in outsourcing process in detail.