Simultaneous development schemes have been launched in 11 cities of the province under the “Mary Nawaz’s Sohna (beautiful) Punjab” program. Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique, while chairing a review meeting of the Punjab Development Program (PDP), expressed satisfaction over the pace of work praising the project team. The meeting was attended by MPA Saqib Khurshid, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gul, Project Director Brigadier (retd) Asad Mahmood, Secretary Local Government Board Tariq Masood Faruka and Additional Secretary Ahmer Sohail Kaifi, while Municipal Officers Infrastructure (MOI) from across Punjab participated through video link.
Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique said that under the PDP, projects will be inaugurated in 17 more cities on January 15 and in further 10 cities on January 22. ” I am happy, he went on, "that projects have been started in 51 out of fifty-two cities during the current month. In the next phase, the turn of the remaining 13 cities will come on January 26”. The provincial minister, while seeking an average analytical report from each MOI, said that work is being started simultaneously on 50 parks and 50 waste water treatment plants. "The total length of underground water tanks under the project is 78 kilometers”, noted Zeeshan.
During the meeting, the local government minister, while taking a detailed review of the locations of all the planned underground water tanks, expressed the hope that the completion of the “Maryum Nawaz Ka Sohna Punjab” project will bring a new look to the cities. "On the one hand, PDP will bring relief to the people and on the other hand, it will lead to an acceleration in economic activities in Punjab”, he observed. Zeeshan Rafique directed the approved manufacturing companies to set up plants in every divisional headquarters for uninterrupted pipe supply stressing that all work should be done as per the instructions issued by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He directed the MOIs to ensure the construction of underground tanks before the rainy season saying that they should monitor the work of contractors and also ensure double shifts for speedy work. "Insha Allah, we will achieve the targets set by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz by working day and night as per the timeline”, he pledged.
Moreover the Minister for Local Government said that every Assistant Project Director (APD) and MOI should upload the pictorial evidence of each visit to the development schemes on the dashboard. He said that the scope of PDP will be extended to 200 cities in a phased manner. He said that contracts are being awarded in a transparent manner through e-tendering. Zeeshan Rafique warned that departmental action will be taken if encroachments coming in the way of the schemes are not removed on time. "All places where rainwater accumulates should be covered. No kind of laxity will be tolerated”, he urged. He said that water recharge wells will also be built under the PDP, which will help in improving the groundwater level. He said that it is positive sign that a master plan for the entire province has been prepared through the PDP, which will be beneficial in many ways in the future. "Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is strongly against the culture of ad-hocism and the PDP is a befitting proof of this. For the first time, municipal schemes have been made for the potential population by 2050”, he remarked.On this occasion, Secretary Local Government Punjab Shakeel Ahmed Mian stressed that the design of tuff tiles should be such that rainwater can be easily absorbed into the ground. "Tree plantation should not be neglected in every city. The main objective of the PDP is to reduce the risks of urban flooding. This aspect must be kept in mind everywhere”, directed Mr. Mian.
