CM reviews Suthra Punjab program,directs improved cleanliness standards across urban areas

LAHORE, Aug 08 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister(CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday directed authorities to further strengthen the province-wide Suthra Punjab initiative by introducing uniform waste management standards, ensuring timely payments to sanitation workers, and intensifying monitoring to deliver visible improvements in cleanliness across Punjab.

Chairing a special review meeting here, the CM ordered the use of standardized dustbins and garbage bags in markets, bazaars and commercial areas, besides directing authorities to fix designated timings for waste collection from commercial centres. She also instructed that all major roads be washed and cleaned daily from 5 a.m. and directed the clearance of vacant plots in urban areas to improve the overall sanitary environment.

CM Maryam Nawaz ordered that sanitation workers under the Suthra Punjab programme be paid their salaries by the fifth of every month and directed companies to submit monthly reports on workers’ payments. She also instructed the immediate clearance of outstanding dues of contractors and ordered prompt action against any delay in salary disbursement.

The CM emphasized ensuring door-to-door waste collection throughout the province and directed Additional Deputy Commissioners (Social Services) to continuously monitor cleanliness standards. She instructed officials to deploy workers and mechanized equipment according to local requirements and ensure cleanliness around schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, parks and green belts, including the removal of discarded plastic bottles, juice cartons and other litter.

She further ordered special measures to clean urban areas surrounding railway tracks and directed daily and timely cleaning of entry and exit points of cities. Deputy commissioners were instructed to remain in close coordination with relevant contractors and Managing Directors of WASA for effective implementation of sanitation operations.

CM Maryam Nawaz also ordered a uniform for field monitoring officers and branding of their motorcycles, while directing the formulation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to evaluate performance at every level, from sanitation workers to senior officers. She stressed that cleanliness of fruit and vegetable markets should receive special attention.

The CM directed that contractors violating SOPs should first be given 24 hours to rectify deficiencies before any penalty was imposed, observing that the objective was to ensure cleanliness rather than impose fines. She announced a zero-tolerance policy against non-performance and instructed authorities to regularly clean sanitation vehicles, containers and waste collection points. She emphasized that cleanliness of residential streets and neighbourhoods was as important as maintaining main roads, adding, “Suthra Punjab is very close to my heart, and achieving better results will require even greater effort.”

During the meeting, the CM appreciated the performance of Lahore, Khanewal, Okara, Attock, Kasur, Murree and several other districts, while directing Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and other underperforming districts to improve their sanitation performance. She also convened another review meeting after seven days to assess implementation of the directives