Maryam okays outsourcing plan for solid waste management

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the outsourcing plan for solid waste management services across all tehsils of Punjab and launched the Suthra Punjab App to facilitate public participation in cleanliness initiatives.

Chairing a meeting on “Zero Waste Mission” under the Suthra Punjab Programme, the chief minister announced that a province-wide door-to-door waste collection campaign will commence on December 3. During the meeting, it was revealed that outsourcing of waste management services had been completed in 103 tehsils, with an expedited process underway in 33 more.

Key updates from the meeting include vehicle tracking: GPS trackers will be installed on waste collection vehicles to ensure proper monitoring. Monitoring committees: Six-member committees, led by assistant commissioners, will oversee operations at tehsil, district, and provincial levels. Employment opportunities: Over 100,000 jobs will be created through outsourcing, with an additional 87,000 roles emerging due to the initiative. Equipment allocation: Over 21,000 cleaning machines and 83,000 cleaning tools will be deployed.

In Lahore alone, door-to-door waste collection will cover 1.5 million households, while cleanliness will be ensured in 500 markets and 400 villages. Additionally, 10 loader rickshaws will be distributed to every union council.

The chief minister emphasized equal cleanliness standards across Punjab, asserting, “A zero-waste revolution will be brought about. Strict monitoring will ensure accountability and negligence will not be tolerated.” She also lauded the cleanliness measures in Murree.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz celebrated the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) achieving a historic milestone by surpassing 100,000 points, declaring it a testament to Pakistan’s economic potential. Speaking to the media, she remarked, “The PSX is now among the world’s best-performing equity markets. Alhamdulillah, this historic achievement reflects the growing confidence of investors in Pakistan’s economy.”

She credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his economic team for this, saying, “This milestone is a result of effective, business-friendly policies formulated during PMLN’s tenure.”

The chief minister said, “Such records are not achieved through political slogans but by delivering tangible results and fostering investor confidence.”

Maryam Nawaz reiterated that under the leadership of PMLN President Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan is achieving stability and development, further strengthening its appeal to international investors.

Also, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated the Pakistan cricket team on their victory in the one-day series against Zimbabwe. She praised the team’s performance, particularly highlighting the contribution of Ghulam Kamran and other players, saying, “They played with passion and won the hearts of spectators. I am confident the team will continue to excel in the future.”