Outsourcing sanitation system aimed to enforce uniformity, says minister

LAHORE:Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique chaired the conference of CEOs of waste management companies across Punjab to review the progress in the pilot programme of outsourcing of sanitation systems.

Secretary Local Government and Community Development (LG&CD) Department Shakeel Ahmed Mian also participated in the conference held at Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) office. All Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) provided details regarding pre-qualification of private companies interested in outsourcing in their respective areas. Addressing the conference, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique said that it is the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to introduce a uniform sanitation system throughout the province. ‘Under this vision, a long-lasting and effective sanitation system is being implemented in Punjab’, he said. The minister said that the main objective of outsourcing was to implement uniform sanitation system. ‘No government in the past tried to focus on sanitation in villages’, he regretted. He further added that ‘now for the first time the government of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has decided to provide sanitation facilities to the majority of the population of the province’, he said. Zeeshan Rafiq pledged that such companies would be selected for cleaning which are capable of giving the desired results. The provincial minister while directing the CEOs to complete the outsourcing process soon emphasised that outsourcing does not mean that our role is over. ‘The new sanitation model will be strictly monitored at every level’, he vowed.

He reiterated his determination that he would continue his efforts until the quality facilities provided to the people. On this occasion, Secretary Local Government and Community Development Shakeel Ahmad Mian directed the CEOs that the waste management companies should keep the cleaning machinery in working condition.

‘There should be no laxity in the de-silting of drains during the rainy season’, he warned. Secretary Local Government said that the responsibilities of outsourcing companies have been determined. ‘The new model of sanitation will be made successful with the people’s cooperation’, he concluded.

World Bank team meets Zeeshan

A World Bank delegation headed by Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist Mohammad Farhanullah Sami called on Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique at the Civil Secretariat.

Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, P&D Chief Officer Ahmed Rajwana and Special Secretary Asia Gul also attended the meeting. During the meeting, progress on the Punjab Rural Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Project (PRSWSSP) was discussed.

The provincial minister informed the delegation about the various projects of the Punjab government and said that PRSWSSP was a good project of the World Bank under which all facilities were being provided to 200 villages of 16 tehsils of Punjab. He expressed his satisfaction over the fact that world bank has expressed its willingness to extend the scope of these facilities to 2,000 villages of the same tehsils. ‘The World Bank’s support in issues like clean water, sanitation, stunting in villages is commendable’, he praised. The minister said that if possible, the World Bank should spend the special funds for sanitation under PRSWSSP for other facilities.