CM wants cities rid of encroachments

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set a target to eliminate encroachments across the province within a week.

Presiding over a meeting, the chief minister also ordered the deputy commissioners to devise a better system for cracking down on corruption. She said reappearance of encroachments after being eliminated was tantamount to administrative failure.

She issued directives to establish urban forests on government land in every city and to ensure the success of the 'No to plastic' campaign across the province.

She directed the authorities concerned to designate bike lanes on roads with fences and short walls as per the Chinese model. She issued directives to make it mandatory for bikers to wear helmets along with ensuring proper functioning of backlights and indicators.

The chief minister ordered the construction of zebra crossings for children in front of schools and strict implementation of rules while issuing fitness certificates of school vans.

She expressed her indignation over complaints of inconvenience being caused to worshipers and citizens due to stagnant dirty water on the roads.

The chief minister called for relocating informal settlements from various places in the cities to alternative locations.

She directed the authorities to impose the restriction of single-line cart markets at designated places. She said carts should not be seen at any place other than the approved design and location.

The chief minister ordered the authorities to ensure cleanliness of bus stands, provision of fans, clean drinking water and best seating places at the stops and depots of every city.

She stressed a zero-tolerance policy against violation of the Marriage Act.

It was decided in yen meeting to entrust monitoring of the performance of the medical superintendents of hospitals to the deputy commissioners.

The chief minister called for a comprehensive cleanliness campaign in Sargodha and appreciated the administration for building monuments, waterfalls and models at intersections in Mianwali and beautification of parks.

She commended the administration for ensuring supply of fertilizers at controlled rates across the province.

It was decided that collars for pet dogs would be mandatory across the province with fines and strict action for violations. A decision was made to implement a vaccination and registration system of pet dogs.

The chief minister said, "Excellence in governance should be visible in every city. Dilapidated roads should not be seen in any city, potholes should be repaired with patchwork. Signboards should be clearly visible on the roads and new boards should also be installed."

She said the land mafia would not be allowed to act freely in Punjab.

She said the DCs should also monitor the construction of houses under the 'Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar' programme.

The CM added, "Water filtration plants should be functional in every city. We are introducing a comprehensive plan for sewerage and sanitation in all the cities across Punjab."

She added, "Street lights should be operational in streets and markets. Green belts should be set up under the overhead bridges and drug addicts should not be seen anywhere." The parks should be cleared of overgrown grass and dust, she said.

Cleanliness should be maintained with the available resources without waiting for solid waste management assistance, she said.

She ordered strict action against the manufacture and sale of fake medicines.