Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar inaugurated the cities cleanliness and municipal services improvement programme of the local government department at a ceremony held at Race Course Park on Tuesday and handed over 24 mini tippers to Deputy Commissioner Sialkot and gave 12 mini tippers to DC Sahiwal. He also inspected modern sewerage safety van and announced to provide funds for giving these vans to every city to protect the lives of the sewermen. He stated that cities cleanliness operation will be improved under Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Programme. Steps have been taken to develop the standard of municipal services and provision of latest machinery has been started to improve the waste management system in Sahiwal and Sialkot, he said. He disclosed that 1088 vehicles and required equipment will be provided to Sialkot with an amount of Rs592 million. Similarly, 942 vehicles and other machinery will be provided to Sahiwal with a sum of Rs293 million, he added. He maintained that cities are facing problems in providing basic facilities due to population boom and varied industrial activities. The PTI government has started a program to provide municipal services at the doorsteps of the citizens, he added. Under this program, the standard of different municipal services will be improved and machinery worth Rs885 million will be provided to both the districts. The Asian Development Bank has provided financial assistance to the Punjab government for this program which includes waste management, water supply, disposal and provision of clean drinking water, he added. Secretary Local Government briefed about the safety van and details of other machinery. Syed Abbas Ali Shah MPA, Chief Secretary, representatives of Sialkot and Sahiwal were also present on this occasion.
