Minister orders installing lights on boat bridges for public safety

LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Communication and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth directed the concerned officials to install adequate lighting arrangements on the bridges to enhance safety measures, particularly during nighttime operations, and to facilitate public access.

The provincial minister issued these instructions while chairing a meeting here on Friday. The meeting was convened to discuss enhancing transportation infrastructure and ensuring public safety. The minister deliberated on critical decisions concerning the operation of eight temporary boat bridges located on different rivers across the province. SE (Mechanical) Dr Asim Haider provided a detailed briefing to the minister, shedding light on the technicalities associated with the boat bridges.

The minister directed the installation of essential infrastructure components, including pontoons, signboards, and capacity boards, on all eight temporary bridges. During the meeting, the minister emphasised the importance of maintaining the structural integrity of the bridges. The temporary bridges are located at Ravi Siphon, Khairpur Daka River Sutlej, Pathan Chawki River Ravi and Chenab, Khalifa Bridge River Sindh, Kot Shakir River Jhelum, Kotla Maglaan River Sindh, Jalalpur Pirwala River Sutlej, and Bhousi Pul River Ravi.

In a proactive move towards fiscal transparency and accountability, the minister directed to prepare a comprehensive report detailing the utilisation of the annual budget amounting to Rs400 million, along with the expenses incurred over the past three years on the installation, removal, and maintenance of these temporary bridges. Additionally, he also issued to conduct a thorough case study on the potential mechanisation of the temporary bridges and to prepare a comprehensive report on the daily traffic flow and vehicle crossings on these bridges. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety and convenience of the public, underscoring the paramount importance of safeguarding public funds. He assured that a modern and efficient approach would be adopted following the completion of the comprehensive case study concerning the temporary bridges.

LWMC ensures special cleanliness arrangements

Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) ensured special cleanliness arrangements at mosques on Juma-tul-Wida on April 5.

Several teams of LWMC kept premises of some 160 mosques of nine towns of Lahore and their surroundings neat and clean for worshippers. LWMC teams were also deployed around mosques during taraweeh prayers and over 200 workers were engaged in cleaning arrangements for worshipers during night shift. Reportedly, extensive cleanliness arrangements have been finalised to maintain a neat and clean environment for worshippers throughout the month, with a special focus on Juma-tul-Wida and Shabina recitations. Mechanical washing of 25 mosques of Ravi Town, 14 of Shalimar Town, 17 of Aziz Bhatti Town, 20 of Gulberg Town, 30 of DGBT, 10 of Samanabad Town, 10 of Allama Iqbal Town, 20 of Nishtar Town, and 14 of Wahga Town is underway. LWMC's operation teams also carried out cleanliness drive of graveyards across the city. Meanwhile, LWMC's Community Wing Social Mobilizers delivered cleanliness messages for citizens during sermons in mosques especially Badshahi Masjid and Masjid-e-Shuhada. Water sprinkling arrangements are also underway around all mosques and taraweeh places and adjacent roads during Ramazan.