Formation of municipal services authority discussed

LAHORE: Provincial Local Govt Minister Zeeshan Rafiq chaired a meeting of the special committee formed by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to establish provincial municipal services authority at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.

Minister for Specialised Health & Medical Education Kh Salman Rafiq, Minister for Communications and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bherth, Parliamentary Secretary for Local Govt Khurram Khan Virk, Local Govt Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian and others attended the meeting.

The meeting deliberated to establish an authority at the provincial level for provision of all municipal services. On this occasion, a sub-committee consisting of officials from the Local Govt and Housing Depts was formed which will submit its recommendations for amendments in the existing laws by Oct 4. Addressing the meeting, Kh Salman Rafiq said that sanitation and water supply is a major problem in every region. “There is no doubt that services like drainage and water supply should be under one authority”, he noted. Local Govt Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that chief minister wanted a single organisation to be responsible for all municipal services.

“The proposed Punjab Water Supply, Sewerage, Sanitation, Solid Waste Management Authority (PWSSSSWMA) will utilise the available manpower instead of recruiting new ones”, he said.