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LAHORE, Dec 13 (APP):Punjab Minister for Local Government and Community Development (LG&CD) Zeeshan Rafique has warned that fines would be imposed on citizens found throwing garbage outside houses, shops or on roads, as the provincial government moves to strengthen enforcement under the Suthra Punjab sanitation system.
The warning was issued during a meeting chaired by the minister at the Civil Secretariat to review sanitation fee collection and finalize a punishment mechanism for littering, here on Saturday. LG&CD Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Arshad Baig and Director General Suthra Punjab Authority Babar Sahib Din attended the meeting, where a detailed briefing was given on progress and future plans.
Addressing the meeting, Zeeshan Rafique said it was essential to make the world’s largest sanitation system self-sustained. He said a modest sanitation fee was being charged to ensure quality services, adding that the minimum monthly fee was Rs 200 in villages and Rs300 in cities, while separate rates applied to commercial units.
He noted that sanitation fee bills had already been paid in several areas and described the payment trend as encouraging.
The minister said that sanitation fee collection would be made completely digital and stressed that public cooperation was vital for the success of the outsourcing model. He said fines for littering were not meant to generate revenue but to reform behavior and promote a clean and healthy society.
Zeeshan Rafique directed the DG Suthra Punjab Authority to launch a full-fledged public awareness and anti-littering campaign, including setting up awareness camps at various locations and running campaigns on social media platforms.
He added that the mechanism for addressing public complaints was being gradually strengthened and said that Suthra Punjab had taken several exemplary steps in a short period.