Authority on civic services: Sub-committee directed to study laws for making solid decisions

LAHORE:Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq on Sunday chaired a meeting of the committee established to create an authority for provision of sanitation and water supply services in Punjab.

Minister for Law, Communications and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bherth, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed and Commissioner Lahore Zaid bin Maqsood also attended the meeting.

A sub-committee comprising officials from the Local Government and Housing Departments presented its preliminary report. The law minister expressed his dissatisfaction over the initial report and directed that the report be re-examined and submitted next week again.

Sohaib Ahmed Bherth said that it is necessary to have a regulator for sanitation and water supply issues. ‘The sub-committee should also study all existing laws for making solid decisions’, he said.

Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, who is also the head of the committee, said that the Local Government Secretary should himself supervise the work of the sub-committee. He said that the drainage and water supply services should be provided under one authority.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is of the view that there must be one entity to be accountable for all services, he added. Zeeshan Rafiq further said that the platform of this committee would suggest new legislation by identifying the loopholes in the existing laws. He said that instead of new recruitment for the authority, the available manpower and resources will be used. The Local Government minister said that under the proposed law, Wasa could be established in any city for sanitation and water supply. For this, it will not be necessary to have a development authority there, he elaborated.

He further said that it is necessary to review the amendments in the backdrop of existing laws for the establishment of new Wasas. Zeeshan Rafiq said that providing quality municipal services is the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. There is no room for any lapse in this regard, he warned.

Minister for Communications and Law Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bherth said that one task should be the responsibility of one institution; otherwise complications could arise. During the meeting, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian assured that the sub-committee will complete its work by next week.