Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered the officials concerned to remove Lloyds flaws in the Suthra Punjab sanitation programme by next month, including shortage of equipment and staff, as well as amendments to agreements with contractors, so that it can be run successfully.
According to sources, the programme's annual budget has already risen from Rs120 billion to Rs150 billion and its success hinges on the collection of a garbage tax, for which the local government department and Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) officials are striving.
The chief minister had initiated the Suthra Punjab programme to extend urban-style cleanliness services to rural areas.
A survey was conducted across the province and a sanitation mechanism devised.
In addition to the local government budget, Rs120 billion was allocated for the initiative. Waste management companies were established in Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi and Sialkot to handle district-level waste disposal and cleanliness services through private contractors.
However, it was revealed in a recent meeting chaired by CM Maryam Nawaz and attended by the Punjab chief secretary, LWMC and other officials that the province lacked more than 40 per cent of the workforce and machinery required for the initiative.
Punjab's population has crossed 130 million, with intercity roads to be included in the programme covering 209,000 square kilometres. Currently, there are 125,000 sanitation workers serving in the province, meaning one worker is responsible for every 1,200 people.
Adjustments to existing contracts with the contractors were also deemed necessary during the discussion.
The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to resolve the issues by October 15.
Orders were issued to improve coordination between the waste management companies and district administrations, with deputy commissioners tasked to ensure ownership of the programme once the flood relief efforts conclude.
The LWMC board has approved amendments to agreements with contractors for highways' and intercity roads' cleaning.
Under the new plan, one sanitation worker with a cart will be deployed for every 2km area.
Daily cleaning has started in urban centres, especially markets.
However, the rural areas will have three cleaning days per week.
Landfill sites have also been identified as a critical need.
Lahore's Lakhodair landfill has reached full capacity, but work on a new site has yet to begin.
Officials said landfills will be established in Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad on a priority basis.
LWMC Chief Executive Officer Sahib Din Babar said the Suthra Punjab programme is the country's first major initiative to benefit 130 million people.
He said the government is addressing staff and equipment shortages with a 15 to 20% budget increase expected.
Work on waste-to-energy projects is also progressing.
Provincial Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian.added that, despite challenges, the programme is moving toward success with sanitation services extended to intercity roads and markets. Urbanisation experts, however, stressed institutional strengthening.
A former MD of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Dr Javed Iqbal, said the Punjab government should empower the municipal committees in the tehsils and districts rather than creating new authorities as it would reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Urban planning expert Dr Nasir Javed said that if Rs150 billion leads to improved cleanliness in Punjab, it would not be a loss.
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