Survey on cities uplift plan complete

LAHORE:Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has formed a provincial steering committee headed by Minister Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq to oversee the Cities Development Programme. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Zeeshan Malik and Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian have been included as members of the committee.

Provincial Minister Zeeshan Rafique visited the Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) and reviewed the progress on the Programme. Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian and Additional Secretary Ahmar Sohail Kaifi were also present. PMDFC MD Syed Zahid Aziz gave a detailed briefing on Cities Development Programme.

Talking on this occasion, Zeeshan Rafiq said that the survey for development works has been completed in all the small and big cities of Punjab. "This is another mega project of the CM Maryam Nawaz government, under which the construction and repair of sewerage, drainage, rainwater storage, parks and streets in urban areas will be completed, while the drainage system will be converted to solar energy", he said.

He observed that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is following the province’s policy of uniform development. "59 cities will be upgraded in the first phase while in the second phase, 110 cities will be upgraded".

The minister said that the project, which is devised with the support of the World Bank, will end the problems of basic services in cities that have been going missing for years. He said that the chief minister has ordered to complete the project in 50 cities by next year.

The provincial minister directed the PMDFC to complete the PC-1 of each city during the current month and said that the steering committee established at the provincial level will also take necessary decisions in consultation with the local elected representatives. "The steering committee in each district will also work under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner", he remarked.

He said that for the first time, a drainage by-system is being introduced in every city. "Laying special sewer lines will protect groundwater from possible contamination", he pointed out. On this occasion, Secretary Local Govt Shakeel Ahmed Mian said that most of the available human resources will be utilised for the Cities Development Programme project and only new recruitment will be made for essential posts. He expressed his determination that the entire project will be completed within two years, which will meet the municipal needs of the cities for the next 25 years.