PHA eyes digitisation to curb graft

PITB to develop revenue management and monitoring system

LAHORE:

The Lahore Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has launched a digitalisation programme aimed at curbing corruption, beautifying the city and providing recreational facilities to citizens.

The programme was launched following an agreement between the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and the PHA to help the authority overcome its financial crisis.

Under the agreement signed by both organisations, the PITB will develop a ‘revenue management and monitoring system’ for the PHA to ensure oversight and transparency in administration.

The PITB will create an android web application for all PHA matters, as well as provide staff training on using the app for the project’s timely completion. It will also provide software, technical support and services for the digitisation of the PHA.

An official said then online application was expected to help the PHA reduce embezzlement, increase revenue and streamline efforts for beautifying Lahore and providing a recreational environment to citizens.

More than 850 parks in the city are in disrepair due to unavailability of funds, he added.

The Lahore PHA receives most of its income from the marketing department, which includes earning from signboards and canteens.

The official said corruption in the department during 2019-20 and 2020-21, resulting in a loss of around Rs500 million had been reported.

The digitalisation system is being introduced to curb corruption.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, PHA Director General Muhammad Tahir Wattoo said the purpose of the agreement with the IT board was “to run the PHA in a modern manner and to establish transparency in all sectors”.

“Under the programme, the entire system of awarding billboard and canteen contracts, collecting dues and arrears will be digitised. Codes will be displayed on all the boards installed in the city. The booking, timeframe, rates and all the information about them will be computerized,” the director general added.

Initially, bookings of parks and canteens for commercial functions and weddings will be digitised, while the authority’s vehicles will be monitored through the online system in the second phase of the plan.

When asked about the financial situation of the PHA, the DG said, “There are currently 502 VVIP, VIP and A, B, C and D category advertising boards in Lahore city. But the PHA is facing a financial crisis due to the expenditure on salaries and stationery.”

To overcome these challenges, the PITB will develop a revenue management and monitoring system.

Initially, contracts for commercial functions, weddings, and canteens will be digitized, followed by digitising information about of all PHA vehicles, he said.

Wattoo added, “As part of PHA’s efforts to raise funds, initially more than 120 parks will be revamped and beautified. Other parks will be improved in the second phase.”

He said that despite the financial challenges, the PHA had been decorating Lahore’s green belts and various intersections with flowers. “Our aim is to beautify Lahore and provide entertainment facilities to the citizens,” the Lahore PHA director general said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2023.