‘Outsourcing of cleaning services to benefit people’

LAHORE : Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has emphasised that the outsourcing model is a new experiment which will benefit population of more than 73.4 million people of Punjab.

Outsourcing of cleaning services process under Suthra Punjab programme of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is completed. The launch will be done during the month of November. In this regard, the progress made so far was reviewed during a meeting held at the Secretary Local Government Office under the chair of Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq. Deputy Commissioners, CEOs of Waste Management and Chief Officers of District Councils participated through video link. Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian issued instructions on the objectives of the Suthra Punjab programme and the steps to be taken thereof. Addressing the meeting, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that the outsourcing process was completed in 90 out of 150 tehsils including Lahore in the first phase.

"Outsourcing will be made operational in the remaining 25 tehsils during the current month (Nov)", he added. The minister said that in the next phase, outsourcing plan will be implemented in Sahiwal and Sargodha divisions. He expressed satisfaction that 100 percent work has been completed in Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad divisions while 90pc work has been completed in Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur and DG Khan divisions. He said that the pace of work has also been accelerated in Multan division; however, self-operation will continue in 13 tehsils of Punjab. Zeeshan Rafique reiterated the commitment that the logo of "Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's Punjab, Suthra Punjab" will be spread everywhere.

During the meeting, it was decided to conduct a special awareness campaign about the importance and necessity of cleanliness in schools and colleges. The Deputy Commissioners were asked to request the imams of the mosques to elaborate importance of cleanliness during their Friday sermons. Apart from this, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif will also write an open letter to the parents and teachers of the students on the importance of the cleanliness.

"All possible steps should be taken to make the public awareness campaign successful. We have taken the lead in the challenge of completing the outsourcing process" said Rafiq. He added that community participation at all levels must be ensured to tackle the next potential challenges.

"For this, the cooperation of local public representatives is vital", he concluded.

Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmad Mian said that under the Suthra Punjab programme, 11.35 million houses in villages and 7.03 million urban houses will be covered. He directed that waste enclosures should be built, or at least, containers should be kept in every village.

"The coordination committees formed at tehsils should clear the piles of dirt that have been there for decades. One time zero waste will be maintained by contractors later on", he said. Secretary Local Government added that the funds have been released under the programme. He emphasised that the district administration should provide all possible facilities to the contractors and also supervise them.