Lahore, (PR) : On the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq reviewed the quarterly performance of the contractors of the Suthra (Clean) Punjab program during a conference held at local venue. Secretary Local Government and Community Development Department Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi and CEOs of all waste management companies also attended the contractors’ conference. On this occasion, the goals of Clean Punjab and the challenges faced were discussed in detail.
Addressing the participants of the conference, Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq said that three months have passed since the launch of the Suthra Punjab program. “The purpose of calling all contractors to Lahore for a quarterly performance review is to ensure the provision of quality sanitation services to the public in every way. It is a matter of pride for me that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision of a clean Punjab has been implemented on ground throughout the province”, he remarked. Zeeshan Rafiq observed that this was a difficult task because no model of outsourcing in the sanitation sector existed in Pakistan before. He said that the Clean Punjab program has provided 113,000 jobs more than the estimate so far. “In addition to direct jobs, millions of indirect employment opportunities are also being created. Under the Suthra Punjab program, 23,000 new local machinery has also come across the province”, he noted. The Minister for Local Government said that the economy has received a huge boost with the emergence of new industry, however, the truth is that the real aim of this revolutionary program is to provide a clean environment to the public. “Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has started surprise visits to different districts. In Sialkot, the Chief Minister went inside the streets and reviewed the sanitation arrangements. Alhamdulillah, she saw cleanliness everywhere”, he added.
He urged the contractors to maintain this spirit of serving the people in the future as well warning that there was no scope for laziness either in the past and nor there will be any scope for laxity in the future. Zeeshan Rafiq said that our goal is to meet the expectations of the people and the Chief Minister. “It is very important for contractors to have control over their subordinate staff. The entire program of Clean Punjab is digital, the data displayed in the control room is the measure of performance, so the data of staff attendance and vehicle movement should be uploaded on the portal at the same time”, he directed. He reiterated that government’s target is to make the sanitation system in Punjab a model for the entire country. “After achieving the target of zero waste in cities, the scope of ‘Clean Punjab’ is being gradually extended to every village”, he added. The Minister for Local Government, on the suggestion of some contractors, said that the department is considering starting double shift pattern in the commercial areas of big cities. He directed that the complaints received on the helpline should be redressed within 24 hours. “There will be no compromise on the payment of the minimum wage fixed by the Punjab government to the staff. He said that it is the responsibility of the contractor to implement the operation plan.
Addressing the contractors’ conference, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian said that the number of collection points and waste enclosures should be completed soon. “Although the performance so far is satisfactory on one hand, it also requires further improvement on the others”, he said. He added that the targets of HR and machinery have almost been met. We all have to deal with the challenges of the new system together.
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