CM orders zero-waste Eid operation

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif has issued directives for maximum cleanliness arrangements on Eidul Azha across Punjab.

He assigned tasks to the Solid Waste Management Companies and the administration of every district to ensure a zero-waste operation on the occasion.

The CM vowed not to make any compromise on the cleanliness arrangements and asserted that action will be taken against the officers concerned wherever any lapse is noticed. The chief minister directed the authorities to ensure timely disposal of waste in all cities of the province on Eidul Azha.

He directed the officials to pay special attention on making cleanliness arrangements for streets and towns, warning that negligence in this regard will not be tolerated. Duties should be performed under a coordinated and comprehensive plan in order to provide a neat and clean environment to the citizens, he said.

The CM directed the deputy commissioners and officers of waste management companies to review the cleanliness plan after making field visits on the Eid days. He said he would personally supervise all the arrangements being made on the occasion.

He underscored that it was the joint responsibility of the departments to provide a clean environment and facilities to the masses.

He directed the officials to immediately redress the complaints of the citizens relating to cleanliness and leave no stone unturned to provide a clean environment to the people on the occasion. He called for providing all possible facilities to the customers in the cattle markets.

The CM directed the departments concerned to fully implement the plan chalked out to cope with the Congo and dengue virus and to utilise all resources to make excellent cleanliness arrangements.

CM Hamza Shehbaz also issued orders for providing facilities to the tourists at the tourism sites of the province, especially those visiting Murree. He called for special arrangements to maintain the flow of traffic around Murree and all other tourist places.

He issued special directives for effective measures for improving the traffic system on the routes from Islamabad to Murree on the Eid. He maintained that the citizens visiting Murree during Eid holidays should not face any difficulty and they should be informed about the traffic situation at every moment.

He directed the officials to ensure implementation of a special plan formulated for the smooth flow of traffic. He directed senior police officers to themselves monitor the traffic plan and said complete focus should be maintained on traffic management.

The CM also directed the administration officers to adopt a zero tolerance policy against overcharging at hotels and parking spots. He said indiscriminate legal action should be taken against those involved in overcharging.

Earlier, the Punjab government has decided to set up a control room headed by the Local Government Board secretary for effective monitoring of sanitation arrangements on Eidul Azha along with similar arrangements in all districts.

Local Government Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch has issued instructions that the control room would be fully activated one day before Eid. It will work round the clock on all three days of Eid. He said 103 employees had been posted to run the control room.

The facility will be operated in three daily shifts. The provincial secretary announced that citizens could also lodge complaints on the phone numbers of the control room

He said the citizens of the provincial capital could also contact the helpline number 1139 of the Lahore Waste Management Company.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2022.