Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique has said that 469 villages of 10 divisions of Punjab have been selected under the "Model Village” initiative of Chief Minister. According to the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, modern facilities will be provided in the villages. He was presiding over a review meeting of the Model Village Program. Special Secretary Asia Gul and Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi also attended the meeting while a briefing was given on the progress made so far by the Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company (PRMSC).
Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique said that under the program, 38 villages of Sargodha division, 44 of Sahiwal and 55 of Gujranwala will become model villages. Similarly, 47 villages of Gujarat, 62 of Multan and 39 villages of DG Khan have been included in the first phase. The Punjab government has selected 47 villages of Sheikhupura and 56 villages of Rawalpindi division. He said that a plan has been made to provide modern facilities in 47 villages of Bahawalpur division and 34 villages of Faisalabad. The Minister for Local Government said that the PRMSC has issued tenders for 336 villages. "Work has also been awarded for 114 villages under the program. Engineers and sub-engineers have been appointed in the relevant areas”. Zeeshan Rafique said that schemes for laying water supply, sewage system and paving streets will be started in the villages. "A special feature of, he went on, "this program is that the traditional thatch will be restored in every exemplary village, which will have a positive impact on the environment. A park will also be built in every village. Tiles with attractive colors will be used in the streets”. The provincial minister directed the PRMSC to install tiles with good designs emphasising that the streets of the villages will be paved in the style of Lahore. "Work on the ideal village phase two will start from next week. God willing, after the completion of this project, no street will remain unpaved in any ideal village”, he figured out.
