LAHORE : Punjab Minister for Local Government and Community Development (LG&CD) Zeeshan Rafique has ordered for swift removal of dust, accumulated along roadsides, following end of the monsoon season.
During a video conference meeting with chief executive officers (CEOs) of various waste management companies, held at the Civil Secretariat here on Saturday, the minister emphasised the significant role of dust in environmental pollution and its contribution to smog.
The meeting, which was also attended by Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian and Special Secretary Asiya Gul, reviewed the performance of solid waste management companies and discussed new projects.The LG&CD minister said that maintaining cleanliness was a key focus of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
He urged all CEOs to meet their cleanliness targets, highlighting that it is their responsibility to ensure a clean and healthy environment for citizens. Zeeshan Rafique specifically pointed out the need for heightened attention to the removal of dust from roadsides, which tends to accumulate during the rainy season.
He stressed that directives issued in meetings chaired by senior ministers to combat smog should be rigorously implemented. During the session, LG&CD Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian conducted a detailed review of each waste management company’s performance and issued necessary instructions to ensure effective operations and adherence to cleanliness standards.The directives aim to mitigate potential smog-related issues by addressing dust accumulation proactively, thereby improving air quality and environmental conditions for the residents of Lahore and other cities in Punjab.
Efforts intensified to ensure cleanliness
Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza has intensified efforts to ensure cleanliness across the city through a series of surprise inspections as part of the Lahore clean mission.
The DC on Saturday conducted surprise visits to several key areas including Canal Road, Harbanspura Roundabout, Pepsi Road, Tajpura, Sami Town, Ghaziabad, and Mohammadpura Bazaar and reviewed the city’s cleanliness condition.
Accompanied by Assistant Commissioner Shalimar Anum Fatima, Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) Chief Officer Ali Abbas Bukhari, Lahore Waster Management Company (LWMC) CEO Baber Sahib Din and other officials, the DC inspected various sites to evaluate cleanliness standards and the effectiveness of ongoing sanitation measures.
During his visit to Ghaziabad, he also assessed the performance of polio vaccination teams, instructing them to perform their duties with utmost dedication and integrity.
DC Syed Musa Raza expressed frustration over the proliferation of banners and streamers along Canal Road, ordering their immediate removal. He issued directives to MCL to clear encroachments along the roadways, emphasizing that no illegal structures should be allowed to persist. In Sami Town, the DC displayed his displeasure over the presence of garbage heaps in vacant plots and directed LWMC officials to promptly clear these areas.
He also reviewed sanitation efforts in Harbanspura, Tajpura, Ghaziabad, and Mohammadpura Bazaar, reinforcing the importance of excellent cleanliness arrangements.
The DC stressed that LWMC should conduct daily self-monitoring of cleanliness activities and ensure that all garbage piles are removed on a priority basis.
He underscored that maintaining a clean city is a top priority and urged citizens to cooperate with the district administration in improving sanitation.
DC Syed Musa Raza emphasised the importance of community involvement, urging residents to keep their homes and surroundings clean and to support the district administration’s efforts to achieve a cleaner Lahore.
The overarching message was clear: achieving a spotless city requires a combined effort from both the authorities and the public.