‘Suthra Punjab programme bidding complete in 64 tehsils’

LAHORE:Provincial Local Govt Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has said that in line with the vision of Punjab CM regarding ‘Suthra Punjab’ programme, the bidding process has been completed in 64 tehsils of the province and the pre-qualification process will be completed in the rest of tehsils during the current month. He shared this information while chairing a meeting at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.

The progress on Suthra Punjab programme and outsourcing model was reviewed in detail in the meeting. Secretary Local Govt Dept Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Additional Secretary Maria Tariq, CEO of LWMC Babar Sahib Din were also present in the meeting while CEOs of other waste management companies participated through video link. The minister said that the active participation of private contractors in the new system is clear proof of confidence in the CM’s vision. The provincial minister directed the officials concerned to accelerate the pre-qualification work. He reiterated his commitment to introduce a sanitation system that would be long lasting and effective as well.

He directed CEOs of waste management companies to be in constant touch with qualified private contractors for better service delivery. “Outsourcing is a new experience, we all have to understand the challenges being faced. I am happy that CEOs have learned a lot from recent experiences,” he added. He also expressed the hope that once this standard system of sanitation is implemented, there will be ease. He said that the preparation for release of funds required for outsourcing model is completed and the door-to-door waste collection model will be operational soon”, he pledged.

Zeeshan Rafiq directed that waste management companies should ensure availability of waste loaders and other equipment. “The successful model of LWMC will be extended to other areas of the province as well,” he vowed.

Secretary LG Dept Shakeel Ahmad Mian directed the CEOs to visit the tehsils for final preparations before handing over to the contractors. “You should make an advance plan for door-to-door collection in the tehsils in which bidding has been done”, he stressed. CEOs of Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Gujranwala’s waste management companies briefed the minister on the progress in the ongoing process of outsourcing.

Cleanliness, price control CM's priority

Commissioner Zaid bin Maqsood Tuesday chaired a divisional meeting on revenue generation, revenue recovery and KPIs targets. The meeting reviewed the recovery in terms of mutation, stamp duty, agriculture income tax and water rates and strategy to recover arrears of last years.

Addressing the participants, the commissioner said the CM’s priorities include cleanliness, price control and elimination of encroachments. He asked the relevant DCs to take notice of manhole covers, cylinder blast incidents and dog bite cases.