LAHORE: The Punjab government has provided 17 vehicles worth Rs 222 million to the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) for the provision of smooth municipal services to the Lahorites.
In this regard, a ceremony of handing over the vehicles was held on Tuesday. Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique, on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, handed over the keys of the vehicles to Deputy Commissioner/MCL Administrator Rafeya Haider. New trucks, tractors and other vehicles, including 12 open trucks, 2 dumper trucks, two tractors with backhoes and one wheel excavator, will be added to the anti-encroachment squad of MCL.
While speaking to the media, the minister said that no new vehicle was purchased for the MCL for the past several years while the population has increased manifold; hence, due to the shortage of vehicles, anti-encroachment operations and other services were facing difficulties.
He averred that approval was given to purchase vehicles for effective operation against encroachment due to which the capacity of the anti-encroachment squad has been greatly increased today.
œIt is the vision of the chief minister to make the entire province neat and clean. For this, an effective cleaning system is being introduced following the experiences of the developed countries. The Punjab government has devised a big plan for the revamping of Lahore, the implementation of which will change the face of the city in a few months. Under the revamping initiative, a comprehensive plan has been prepared for maintenance and provision of municipal services at every street of Lahore, said Rafique.
Replying to a question, he said that the previous tabdeeli sarkar had sent running local bodies home overnight. He pointed out that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has a track record of conducting local government elections and it strongly believes in a local government system.
Unfortunately, even on the order of the Supreme Court, the local body elections were not conducted during the previous government; however, now, on the instructions of the chief minister, work has been started on the preparation of the new local body act, he said, adding that a comprehensive package is being brought to solve not only wheat but also other problems of farmers.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024