Under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Model Village Program, work has begun on development projects in 302 villages. This development was revealed during a meeting, Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique in chair. Chief Executive Officer of Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company (PRMSC) Khurram Pervez briefed the minister about development made so far. Special Secretary (Development) Asia Gul was also present, while Secretary Coordination of the Chief Minister’s Office participated exclusively through video link.
Minister Local Government Zeeshan Rafique said that the Chief Minister had initially approved the start of municipal schemes for 485 villages. "So far, the concerned District Development Committees have been approved schemes for 464 villages. PRMSC has awarded work for 357 villages while contractors have taken over responsibilities in 302 villages. The provincial minister, while directing to create a dashboard for monitoring the Model Village Program, said that PRMSC has estimated the presence of 41,000 ponds in 22,986 villages of Punjab. "Along with the restoration of traditional ponds of the villages, water treatment plants will be installed so that healthy aquaculture can thrive in these water bodies”, he added. He said that the Model Village Program will be completed in phases. "8,000 villages, he went on, are being included in phase one. We are trying to ensure that at least 50 villages of each provincial constituency benefit from the first phase”.
The Local Government Minister said that the "Maryum Nawaz Ka Sohna (beautiful) Punjab” program will give a new look to the villages. "Along with the construction of streets, drains and parks, water schemes will also be provided in 200 villages”, pledged he. The meeting also decided to launch a campaign to remove encroachments on the pond land. The provincial minister directed the concerned deputy commissioners to assign the task of removing encroachments observed that a reliable database of villages is also being created through the model village program. Zeeshan Rafique said that the Chief Minister wants to provide facilities in villages at par with those in cities. The Local Government Minister, expressing satisfaction over the progress made so far, directed that quality and transparency should be taken care of at every stage of work on the schemes.
