Punjab CM announces Khadim-e-Punjab Saaf Dehat Programme

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday decided to launch the Khadim-e-Punjab Saaf Dehat Programme.

Addressing a meeting here, the chief minister said the programme would be a milestone in improving the system of cleanliness in villages. The programme would be carried out through local bodies. Due to a clean atmosphere, people would remain safe from diseases. He said: “Cleanliness of villages like cities is our responsibility and keeping this thing in view, an elaborate system of cleanliness is being introduced at the union council level in villages.”

He directed a comprehensive mechanism to dispose of solid waste. He said a regular third-party audit of this programme would be compulsory, adding that the districts showing exemplary performance under this programme would be encouraged by the government. He directed that the programme process be completed till end-December. He said a provincial steering committee would monitor the programme.

Provincial Ministers Mansha Ullah Butt, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Hamza Shahbaz, Special Assistant Muhammad Ahmed Khan, the chief secretary, the lord mayor of Lahore and the chairmen of District Councils of Narowal, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura attended the meeting. The Sargodha DC and commissioner participated in the meeting through video link.

Later, talking to a delegation of MNAs who called on him, Shahbaz said the elements involved in politics of falsehood should know the reality as hindering the development process was no service to people. He said people devoid of passion of public service did not want progress in the country. He said the political future of those involved in negative politics was bleak. People would reject them in the 2018 elections. “We have treated public service as a noble cause as Pakistan is our country and we all have to work collectively to make it better.”

He said people showing the worst performance in their province were doing politics of accusations. The conscious people could not be fooled by falsehood as lie had no legs to stand upon. That’s why; the elements involved in speaking lies had to cut a sorry figure as truth prevailed. He said these people should have a pity for the nation. He said the country had been put on the road to development after saving it from troubles. A new example had been set by saving billions of rupees in development projects.

“The opponents are at liberty to speak up their minds, but we shall not quit the mission of public service. We are committed to national development and every effort has been made to rid the country of problems. We are working with passion for public service and our welfare initiatives are a conspicuous proof. We have transparently utilized national resources for the betterment of people. How people involved in land grabbing and waiving off loans worth billions of rupees can make a hue and cry against corruption,” he said and added the politics of the head of a political party was based on deceit and he was the founder of politics of anarchy, falsehood and hypocrisy.

Those who called on the CM included Federal Parliamentary Secretaries Alimdad Lalika, Ch Armaghan Subhani and Tahir Bashir Cheema. Meanwhile, in a message, the CM condoled the death of the brother of Masood-ur-Rahim, senior assignment editor of the Geo News, Islamabad. He extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in peace.