Maryam Nawaz orders daily washing of main roads, sets 15-day cleanliness goal

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered the daily washing of major roads and given officials 15 days to achieve a 100 per cent improvement in cleanliness across the province. She gave the instructions while chairing a review meeting on the Suthra Punjab initiative, according to 24 News and Daily Pakistan.

The meeting considered ending the role of solid waste management companies because of unsatisfactory cleaning. Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan will move to a self-operation model for cleaning. 24 News reported that the decision was made because of the poor performance of the companies.

Daily Pakistan reported that Maryam Nawaz expressed concern over dust on roads across the province, which led to the order for daily washing of main roads. She also ordered fines for people who throw garbage on roads after cleaning.

She directed measures to fine garbage dumping in markets, bazaars, vegetable markets, Fort and grain markets. The meeting also considered fines for owners of vacant plots where garbage is found.

Deputy commissioners were directed to ensure better field monitoring, timely salaries for sanitation workers and physical verification of cleaning machinery and equipment in their districts. Daily Pakistan reported that deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners must meet field monitoring officers weekly, and a KPI is to be set to check those officers' performance.

The meeting set a target to meet human resource and machinery needs in every district. Maryam Nawaz directed that villages be cleaned on every alternate day. She asked deputy commissioners for their machinery demands and a final record of the savings made under self-operation.

Deputy commissioners of Multan, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Hafizabad, Muzaffargarh and other districts presented reports at the meeting. A follow-up Suthra Punjab meeting was called after one week to review progress.