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MULTAN, Dec 15 (APP):A review meeting of the Suthra Punjab programme, chaired by Multan Commissioner Aamir Karim Khan, on Monday emphasized that the province’s flagship cleanliness drive is a results-based initiative, with contractor payments strictly linked to performance.
The commissioner said that under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision, the Punjab government is investing heavily in a world-class and sustainable sanitation system. He added that the Suthra Punjab programme in Multan district alone offers contracts worth over Rs9 billion over the next four years, with billions more allocated across the Multan division to ensure uniform cleanliness standards.
“Given the scale of public investment, there is zero tolerance for underperformance,” Commissioner Khan said, adding that the practice of granting repeated extensions to non-performing contractors has been discontinued. “Only measurable results will be accepted,” he warned.
He said contractors receiving substantial public funds must demonstrate professionalism, transparency, accountability, and consistent service delivery. He stressed that the programme’s international recognition could only be maintained if cleanliness standards were ensured not only on major roads but also in streets, neighbourhoods, dividers, and city entry points.
The commissioner ordered strict action against shopkeepers, vendors, and cart owners found dumping waste outside commercial premises or polluting roads and green belts. He directed officers to show no leniency in enforcing sanitation laws and called for enhanced monitoring of contractor performance in commercial areas.
Highlighting social responsibility, Commissioner Khan instructed that Christian sanitation workers be paid their salaries before Christmas and that special cleanliness campaigns be carried out in Christian neighbourhoods. “Ensuring a clean and safe environment for minority communities is the responsibility of the state,” he said.
Contractors were also warned to ensure timely monthly payment of wages to all workers, failing which strict action would be taken. The meeting called for the formation of public committees at village, union council, and neighbourhood levels to enable citizen oversight, supported by third-party monitoring of contractor performance.
To address long-standing sanitation issues, the commissioner directed the immediate clearance of waste from open plots, strict action against illegal dumping of garbage and construction debris, and the establishment of special enforcement squads. “Wherever filth is visible, action must be immediate,” he said.
The meeting also directed that the Suthra Punjab universal helpline be made fully functional to ensure prompt redressal of public complaints.
Deputy and assistant commissioners briefed the meeting on district-wise challenges and public feedback, while Waste Management Company CEO Abid Bhatti presented an overview of the existing sanitation mechanism.