Lahore (News Desk): A Clean Punjab Conference was held in the Punjab Assembly, where Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique provided a detailed briefing to the assembly members about the Clean Punjab program. However, opposition members boycotted the event.
Leader of the Opposition, Ahmad Khan Bhuchar, expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to address their demand for a one-day session to discuss cleanliness issues. He criticized the government’s inability to address corruption scandals, calling for more accountability in the program.
Government members, on the other hand, praised the initiative, describing it as a positive step, while some members raised concerns about the implementation of the new system. They noted that the new system is not yet fully operational, while the old system has been discontinued, leading to an increase in waste and garbage piles in various districts.
The session was presided over by Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, and started with the recitation of the Quran and a Naat. Local government leaders and deputy commissioners from across Punjab participated in the conference via video link.
In his address, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan highlighted the issue of non-payment of municipal taxes in rural areas, which hindered the provision of municipal services. He also praised the Clean Punjab program, emphasizing that cleanliness is half of faith, and criticized the historical association of cleanliness with the Christian community, stressing that they are an integral part of society.
Minister Zeeshan Rafique outlined the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for the Clean Punjab program, noting that it aims to revolutionize the waste management system in both urban and rural areas. He revealed that Punjab generates 60,000 tons of waste daily and announced the introduction of a modern waste management system to better handle the waste. Over 100,000 jobs will be created under the program, with a door-to-door waste collection system being implemented for the first time in rural areas.
During the conference, Saira Afzal Tarar criticized the current state of the cleanliness system, highlighting ongoing problems in several areas and calling for better resources and management for effective implementation. Government minority member Shakeela Javed also spoke about the rights of minorities, condemning the association of the cleaning profession with the Christian community. She advocated for equal rights for minorities and better solutions to their issues.
The conference concluded with a commitment to swiftly implement the new waste management system, and senior officials from various departments, including Secretary Local Government Mian Shakeel and CEO LWMC Babar Nadeem, were also in attendance.
