Government servants have to serve the citizens:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore:Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that provision of the best facilities and services to the people is the foremost responsibility of the Punjab government and all possible steps are being taken in this regard. He said that government servants must serve the citizens with dedication and commitment. He directed that provision of potable water to the citizens must be ensured and no complaint should come from any house, locality or area about paucity of water. He further directed that in view of monsoon season in the sacred month of Ramzan ul Mubarik, foolproof arrangements be made for the rainy season. He directed that an effective plan for monsoon and provision of drinkable water should be submitted to him within next three days. He also directed elected representatives to conduct regular visits to their constituencies for personally monitoring the arrangements made in this regard.

He was presiding over a meeting held at Tent Office Minar-e-Pakistan here today to review monsoon arrangements, drains de-silting campaign and provision of potable water to the citizens. The meeting was attended by Provincial Ministers Ch. Abdul Ghafoor, Mian Mujtaba-Shuja-ur-Rehman, Members of National and Provincial Assemblies from Lahore, heads of development authorities, Commissioner, District Coordination Officer Lahore and other senior officers. Addressing the review meeting, Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that all departments concerned should be geared to meet any emergent situation during rainy season and directed them to work in a coordinated manner. He directed concerned authorities to take efficacious steps to ensure provision of drinkable water on regular basis during the holy month of Ramzan, and for this purpose, ordered installation of additional generators and pumps. He warned that no complaint of non-availability of water should come from any mosque, street or an area, even for a moment. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif further directed to accelerate the de-silting of drains and rainwater channels, alongwith ensuring that no sediment remains at the roads. He said that de-silting work, being carried out at drains and rainwater channels should be audited through a third-party validation. He also stressed the need of evolving mechanism for taking immediate remedial steps on complaints received by the complaint cell so that problems of the citizens could be resolved to their satisfaction. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif pointed out that the committee, formed under the chairmanship of Member National Assembly Mian Marghoob Ahmed is tasked with keeping all generators and tubewells of the city in running order and the committee has full authority to take action against those who are not performing their duties. He reminded that a heavy responsibility devolves upon the elected representatives as well, to take efficacious steps to ensure availability of civic amenities to the citizens.

Earlier, the meeting was informed about the steps taken by the heads of development authorities regarding monsoon arrangements and supply of drinking water to the citizens. Secretary Housing informed the meeting that as many as 66 tubewells are in running condition in the provincial metropolis, whereas work is continuing on installation of 38 new tubewells. He said that drinking water is also being made available to the citizens through water tankers. He informed that 18 generators have been acquired from the private sector, whereas agreement to obtain 12 more generators has also been made. He informed that steps have also been taken to stop pilfering of diesel from generators and, in this regard complaint cells set up at the offices of SDO’s WASA are fully active. Secretary Local Government informed that relief camps have been planned in different towns of the city during monsoon season which would be closely monitored from the control room. Managing Director Solid Waste Management and Managing Director WASA informed about the de-silting of the drains of the city.