Sanitation system outsourcing near completion

LAHORE:Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has said that the process of outsourcing the sanitation system has reached its final stage. Each tehsil has been given the status of a unit in the pilot sanitation project.

While presiding over a meeting of the CEOs of waste management companies at the Civil Secretariat, he said that it is the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to introduce a uniform sanitation system throughout Punjab. Under the pilot project, cleaning work in eight divisions of Punjab will be outsourced soon, he disclosed.

Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian and others also attended the meeting. The progress in outsourcing project of the sanitation system was reviewed. The CEOs of waste management companies apprised the minister of the progress made so far.

Local Government minister noted that it is for the first time that steps are being taken to include villages in the sanitation targets. As this is a new experience, technical aspects should be taken care of. An outsourcing system means directly involving citizens in this cleanliness movement, he said and added that the challenges of sanitation can be tackled only through public cooperation.

The minister directed the CEOs to conduct an awareness campaign in their respective areas, adding that under the supervision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, we are bringing a pilot project of sanitation by studying the successful systems of the world. He warned that safe waste dumping was a bigger challenge than garbage collection and it should be specially taken care of.

Zeeshan Rafiq said that safe landfill sites would be created in the new sanitation system. He reiterated his determination that the goals set by the chief minister would be achieved.