LAHORE  -  Senior provincial minister Abdul Aleem Khan has given directions to immediately start working on the new strategy for cleanliness work in the cities of Punjab and effective steps towards waste collection, dumping and recycling. He would be visiting different sites to personally see the situation.

He said this at a briefing session of Lahore Solid Waste Management.  The senior minister said that waste collection and processing has become an industry as it produces fertilizer, gases and many other products while in only Lahore deficit of the company has reached up to Rs. 35 billion.

He expressed concern over the system of companies devised by the previous government and said that after the induction of new district and local governments, cleanliness work would not be responsibility of the Punjab Government. He announced to visit solid waste sites and inspect the situation on the spot to amend the strategy.

Abdul Aleem Khan directed Secretary Local Government to start public awareness campaign about cleanliness and introduce different colors baskets for waste collection at public points so that plastic and other stuff may be separated at starting point. He said that with the collaboration of media this drive may be initiated at schools, college, shopping malls and important markets. The senior minister also directed to reconstitute local bodies’ boards of waste companies at the earliest and also nominate professionals there. Abdul Aleem Khan said that after the completion of Court proceedings against these companies their fate would be decided but there can be no compromise on the cleanliness work and we have to ensure effective and prompt steps in this regard.

Secretary Local Government Arif Anwar Baloch, Director General Local Government, MD Solid Waste Management and other officers gave briefing to Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and told about the present status of dumping sites of Lakho Dair. They told that other than Lahore, in Multan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Bahawalpur waste management companies working and everywhere there are certain issues to be resolved.

Minister sees change in three months

Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that change would be visible in public health facilities in next three months.

Addressing a seminar at Services Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday, she vowed to leave no stone unturned in materializing the dream of Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding quality healthcare facilities for the masses.  Dr Yasmin Rashid urged faculty to work with dedication as they were role model for young doctors and medical students. She urged faculty to give due time to emergencies as it would be beneficial not only for patients but also for house officers.

She said that mistreatment of patients and attendants would not be tolerated. She said that there was need of understanding psychology of patients and handling him/her accordingly to avoid any unpleasant incident.

Principal SIMS Prof Mehmood Riaz assured the minister full support to improve service delivery at the hospital.