Directive to continue Khidmat programme

LAHORE:Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik has directed all the divisional commissioners to continue with full vigour “Khidmat Aap Ki Dehliz Per” programme in the province, saying that all relevant departments must work actively in this regard. He issued this directive during a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat to review the Khidmat programme.

Addressing the meeting, the chief secretary said that the programme should be implemented in its true spirit, adding that positive feedback from the citizens was a yardstick of success. He said that people should be convinced that the government was trying to solve their problems. The chief secretary said that field activities were being monitored through the dashboard. He said that the performance would be regularly reviewed and action would be taken against the officers and officials over misreporting.

He commended the officers of DG Khan and Bahawalpur Divisions for the high rate of complaint resolution. The meeting was briefed that the first two phases of the programme – the cleanliness and drainage weeks - have been completed successfully while the cleaning of government buildings is underway in the third week. Under the programme, more than 2.8 million activities have been carried out across the province so far. Around 19,700 complaints from the citizens were received on Khidmat App, 17,397 of these complaints were resolved timely.

The meeting was informed that the complaint resolution rate remained 88 percent and the public satisfaction rate was 83 percent. The Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman PITB, DGPR and officers concerned attended the meeting while all the divisional commissioners participated through a video link.

LWMC: Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) conducted a special desilting operation in connection with the monsoon plan. The special cleanliness drive was carried out in rural areas of Wagah Town which includes Minhala, Hadyara villages and other adjoining areas. The department deployed additional workers and lifted more than one ton of desilting material with the help of handcarts and pickups.

CEO LWMC Ms Rafia Haider stated that the department is working as per the prepared monsoon plan to ensure the removal of water from streets and main roads. She appealed to the citizens to use waste bins instead of throwing waste in streets, culverts, canals and open plots. In case of waste-related complaint citizens can also dial LWMC helpline 1139 or can use the mobile-based application Clean Lahore, she added.

Fort Munro: Countdown has started for reopening of state-of-the-art resort under Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) at Fort Munro, an important hill station in southern Punjab.

This resort has been closed for last three years but on the directions from Chief Minister Punjab, TDCP has started revamping work at the site. Secretary Tourism and Archaeology Department (TAD) Capt (retd) Mushtaq Ahmad also visited the resort to examine the revamping work. On the way, Mushtaq also visited Sakhi Sarwar shrine near Fort Munro, where Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project (PTEGP) has been working on a project for promoting religious tourism in Punjab. He was informed that the Sakhi Sarwar project requires more time for its completion.

Secretary TAD inspected all parts of Fort Munro resort and issued necessary directions for its early completion. “The resort will be operational by the end of current month” informed the construction in-charge. The newly-built resort includes a reception, lobby in addition to veranda and a balcony from which one could absorb tremendous natural beauty spread around. Walkways and tracks are revamped. The resort also provides a proper parking area for the tourists.