Azma says no restrictions on Imran’s meetings

LAHORE:Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari Friday clarified that the Punjab government has not imposed any restrictions on the meetings with the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

In response to a statement of Barrister Saif, the minister said Imran’s family, legal team, and party leaders continue to meet him as routine. She said: “They treat the jail like an amusement park. They expect no regulations, wanting unrestricted access for anyone at any time.”

She slammed the PTI’s tactics, stating that when ‘Tahreek-e-Fasaad’ runs out of strategies, it resorts to playing the ‘victim card.’ The minister said writing letters would not secure them. She said on one hand, the PTI leader writes letters, and on the other, it launches propaganda campaigns.”

She said some 50 individuals having ties with the PTI protested the Army Chief’s visit to London. She said, even today the politics of ‘Tahreek-e-Fasaad would remain incomplete without having talks with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Punjab’s sewage problem to be resolved in phased manner: minister

Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq reviewed Chief Minister Development Programme during a meeting here on Friday. Special Secretary Local Govt Asia Gul and Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMFDC) MD Syed Zahid Aziz gave the briefing.

The minister said that the water and sewage problems of all the cities of Punjab will be resolved in a phased manner under this project. He said that CM Punjab has approved the Chief Minister Development Programme and Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company with the support of World Bank will complete these projects.

Zeeshan Rafiq said that the sewage system will be solarised in all the projects. “PMDFC has prepared a list of 189 small and big cities. In the first phase, an estimate of 40 cities has been created while the feasibility of 20 cities has been entrusted to the World Bank”, he remarked.

He further said that the Chief Minister has directed to complete the project within the stipulated time line. “In the next phase, 110 more cities will be included in the programme”, he pledged. He said that the special feature of the project is to create ponding areas to store storm water. “UNICEF has praised the pilot project completed in Sheikhupura. Parks are also being built along with ponding areas”, he revealed.

Zeeshan Rafiq said that the project will cost Rs150 billion. The next 25 years of sewage and water supply needs of all cities will be taken into consideration. He said that PMDFC is also working on the restoration of traditional water reservoirs in villages. “These small ponds were important for protecting the natural environment, but over time, these reservoirs have turned into cesspools”, he regretted.

He vowed that the water of these ponds will be used for agricultural purposes. “The restoration of rural ponds will also provide a favourable environment for aquatic life”, he noted.