Progress on ‘Suthra Punjab’ reviewed

LAHORE:All Waste Management Companies (WMCs) have been directed to call a meeting of supervisory committees formed under outsourcing of cleanliness programme.

This direction was passed during a meeting of CEOs of WMCs chaired by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq. Secretary Local Government and Community Development Department (LG&CDD) Shakeel Ahmed Mian and CEOs of all waste management companies participated through a video link. On this occasion, Suthra Punjab programme of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and progress in outsourcing of sanitation work was reviewed.

Addressing the meeting, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that estimation of population and recovery details should be completed in selected tehsils during the first phase. He categorically figured out that there would be no other model except door-to-door waste collection under outsourcing programme. Each area will also be swept three times a week, he added.

Zeeshan Rafiq directed that waste enclosures, dumping sites and temporary collection points should be established immediately at the tehsil level. A control room should be established in every tehsil during the current month, he directed.

The meeting decided to impart IT training to the relevant staff of the contractors. This training programme will be conducted by the local government department. The minister also directed that every waste management company should have the same system. During the meeting, the provision of funds and additional equipment for Bahawalpur Waste Management Company was accorded approval.

Zeeshan Rafiq said that cleanliness marks are the highest among key performance indicators (KPIs) of the tehsil level set by the chief minister. ‘This clearly shows how much importance CM Maryam Nawaz attaches to cleanliness’, he commented.

He said that recovery would not be started during the first three to four months after initiation of outsourcing model. During that period, the fee collection procedure will be decided, accordingly, he hoped. Zeeshan Rafiq directed LWMC CEO Babar Sahib Din to develop a mechanism model for recovery and expressed his determination that the sanitation model practiced in Lahore would be extended to other areas as well. Secretary LG&CD Shakeel Ahmed Mian said that guidelines for contractors have been prepared by the Local Government Department.

‘Vehicle tracking system will also be arranged immediately’, he pledged. While directing the steps to transfer equipment and manpower to the contractors, he said that each company should also get approval of all the steps from its management board.