CM approves setting up of anti-corruption agency 

Says traffic laws to be enforced at all costs

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved setting up of anti-corruption agency for harmonising Anti-Corruption Establishment with modern demands and making it a vibrant and active institution. The agency will be completely autonomous and independent.

A committee has been constituted with regard to setting up of anti-corruption agency which will take immediate steps for making anti-corruption laws at provincial level.

Best model of the world will be benefitted for organisational structure of the agency and services of an international consultant will be acquired, he added.

He was presiding over a meeting to review different proposals for harmonising Anti-Corruption Establishment with modern demands, here Tuesday.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said the Punjab government was implementing zero-tolerance policy against corruption and all mega projects of the government were its proof. He said the institution would have to perform its duties in a vibrant and active manner for good governance in the province and elimination of bribe and corruption and therefore, anti-corruption agency was being established.

Shahbaz Sharif said a policy should be evolved for giving incentives to the staff on the basis of performance and a road map be devised by giving a final shape to short, medium and long-term steps within three weeks and it should be immediately implemented.

Giving directions for constitution of a committee for setting up of anti-corruption agency, the chief minister said the committee should take immediate steps with regard to making anti-corruption laws at provincial level and solid steps be taken for disposing of pending inquiries in anti-corruption in the stipulated period.

He said that indiscriminate action should also be taken against those filing fake applications.

Anti-Corruption Establishment Director General Brig (R) Muzaffar Ali Ranjha gave a detailed briefing regarding the performance and other matters of the institution. Adviser Umer Saif, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Law, Advocate General Punjab, Secretary Services and the officials concerned were present on the occasion.

traffic: Shahbaz Sharif presided over second meeting of steering committee set up for improving traffic system which reviewed different proposals, recommendations and steps for this purpose.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said the best traffic management system was identity of civilised societies.

Effective and comprehensive reforms are being introduced for improving traffic system in big cities of Punjab, including Lahore and traffic management will be improved through modern technology, he added. He said that flow of traffic, management and other matters would be monitored with the help of latest technology; ridding the citizens of traffic problems by improving traffic management was the responsibility of the institutions concerned and they would have to fulfill it, he added. 

Shahbaz Sharif said that road infrastructure had been improved at a cost of billions of rupees and now there should also be improvement in traffic management so that people could get rid of problems resulting from traffic. He directed that in the light of recommendations and suggestions for improving traffic management, a final plan should be presented within next two days.

Giving approval to setting up of a fund of Rs100 million with regard to improvement of traffic management, the chief minister said there was no need of sending summary for taking steps in connection with improvement of traffic management and added that steering committee should take steps after making decisions. He said the role of traffic education was of basic importance in traffic management and steps should be taken expeditiously for making traffic education a part of curriculum.

He said an effective system should be evolved for the awareness of the people about flow of traffic and traffic situation through media. Seminars should be conducted on traffic education in schools, colleges, public and private institutions, he added. He said such steps should be taken regarding traffic management that people should feel improvement in traffic system.  He directed to ensure implementation of traffic laws at all costs. He said that all institutions should work in a coordinated manner for traffic management and give results instead of lip service. He said that on the one hand, the encroachments had marred the beauty of cities while on the other hand, traffic problems had also increased. He said a plan should be evolved for eliminating temporary and permanent encroachments and it would have to be implemented. 

Shahbaz Sharif directed that rotary parking machines should be imported in large numbers and a comprehensive planning should be made after conducting survey for installation of rotary parking machines. He said that matters would have to set right while performing duty with the sense of responsibility and there should be zero-tolerance policy for checking teenage driving while motorcyclists should be bound to use helmets. He said complete survey of traffic of Lahore City should be conducted and planning be made in its light. He said an effective system should be evolved for monitoring of the steps taken in connection with traffic management. He said that steps should be taken for capacity building of Tepa. 

The meeting gave approval to make three roads of Lahore, including Jail Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg and Ferozepur Road as model roads.