Uplift schemes set to start in 66 cities in Punjab

LAHORE:Provincial Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that Punjab government has decided to start development schemes in 66 cities of the province from the beginning of the new financial year.

In this regard, he issued instructions regarding the Chief Minister Cities Development Programme while chairing a video link meeting held at the Civil Secretariat on Thursday.

Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Additional Secretary Ahmar Kaifi, PMDFC MD and deputy commissioners of various districts also participated. Provincial minister directed the deputy commissioners concerned to keep the model of Lahore Development Programme in mind. He clarified that there will be no additional recruitment for the Cities Development Programme except for technical experts and only the available human resources will be utilised.

Zeeshan Rafiq said the Local Government Department will complete this mega project in collaboration with Public Health Engineering and 110 more cities will be included in the programme in the next phase. "In every city, 100 percent of the dirt roads will be paved or repaired. Along with the construction and repair of connection roads, a comprehensive sewage system will be introduced", he elaborated.

Zeeshan Rafiq said that copies of PC-1 have been sent to the relevant municipal bodies. "Deputy commissioners will start tendering from July by giving suggestions on PC-1", he urged. He said that deputy commissioners have also been made members of the steering committee. “Under the programme disposal stations will be made solarised. Sewerage problems will be solved by keeping in mind the needs of the population by 2050".

The minister said that in the past only partial schemes were completed in cities, however, for the first time, an end-to-end solution for sanitation will be provided. "In addition to rainwater drainage, storage tanks will also be built. Restoration of parks will also be included in the project" he remarked. The minister directed that transparency should be taken care of while implementing the project on timeline.