Rawalpindi: (Parliament Times) Provincial Minister for Communication & Works Malik Tanveer Aslam Awan has said that “Khadim-e-Punjab Saaf Dehat Program” is aimed to provide cleanliness facilities to rural areas, and added further that it is first of its own kind in the history of Pakistan that such initiative has been taken for rural community. He said that 3454 dumping sites from 1100 villages of Rawalpindi District has been cleared yet in first phase of this program. However there is a dire need to involve community in this program and make them realize that sanitation is mandatory not only for their faith but for content and healthy life as well.
He shared these thoughts while chairing a meeting held to review progress of Rawalpindi District regarding Khadim-e-Punjab Saaf Dehat Program. Sectary Human Rights Asim Iqbal, Member National Assembly Raja Javed Ikhlas, Member Punjab Assembly Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Tallat Mehmood Gondal, Additional Commissioner Tariq Salam Marwat, Tahir Ali Special Branch, AC Goujar Khan Mehreen Fahim, AC Cant Amber Gillani, AC City Maleeha Jamal, AC Murree Arif Ullah Awan AC Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Kotli Sattyian and other concerned officials were also present at the meeting.
While conversing at this moment, Sectary Human Rights Asim Iqbal said that participation of community and association of Local Government organizations is mandatory to keep this campaign fruitful. He said that a close coordination with public representatives of local areas is also needed to identify the exact dumping sites and work effectively. MNA Raja Javed Ikhlas and MPA Shaukat Aziz Bhatti added further that our prime focus is not only urban but we give equal significance to rural areas and this initiatives of CM Punjab is revolutionary step which clearly depicts that he prefers the well-being of rural areas in the same way. They said that respective AC s have been nominated as focal person which are working in close coordination with UC Chairmen and Sectaries to serve this purpose. DC Rawalpindi Tallat Mehmood Gondal briefed the meeting about Tehsil wise progress of cleanliness been done under phase-1. He further shared that phase 2 of program to be started by January and government has not only increased budget but also will provide with machinery in this phase. He said that UC chairmen are allowed to utilize the remaining budget for cleanliness after paying salaries which will make them more independent. He directed ACs to record and update the accounts and finances of program under prescribed Performa so that transparency and quality of program could be ensured.
