Latest news with #SuthraPunjab
Business Recorder
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab budget will be public-friendly, tax-free: Azma
LAHORE: The Punjab budget for the year 2025-26 will be progressive, people-friendly and tax-free, Information Minister Azma Bokhari, said. The Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has issued clear instructions to expand the province's tax net, but no new taxes will be imposed on the public, Azma said, adding: 'Major initiatives by the Punjab government — such as "Suthra Punjab", infrastructure development, and the construction of new hospitals — will be part of the budget. Basic facilities will be ensured in all public schools across the province. She also noted that, according to a recent report by The Economist, 98% of schools in Punjab are in satisfactory condition. The public will see the Chief Minister's welfare initiatives reflected in the upcoming budget, she added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-06-2025
- General
- Business Recorder
Eid-ul-Azha celebrated with religious fervour
LAHORE: Eid-ul-Azha, commemorating the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismael (AS) was celebrated with religious zeal and fervour. The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for well-being of the Muslim Ummah and peace, progress and prosperity of the country. Eid congregations were held at mosques, Eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages across the country. Ulema, in their Eid sermons, highlighted the significance and philosophy of great sacrifice offered by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismael (AS). After offering Eid prayers, the faithful offered sacrifice of animals to follow the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). The process of sacrificing the animals continued on second and third days of Eid i.e. Sunday and Monday. After offering sacrifice of animals, the faithful distributed meat to their relatives and needy people. The faithful also visited graveyards to offer Fateha to their family members who left this world. The civic bodies in cities and towns have made special arrangements for disposal of offal and other solid waste during three days of Eid-ul-Azha and to ensure cleanliness. The Lahore Waste Management Company under Suthra Punjab made elaborate arrangements for cleanliness. The top management of LWMC remained in the field to ensure cleanliness arrangements. Radio and TV channels presented special programmes in connection with Eid-ul-Azha. Elaborate security arrangements were made for the security of the faithful. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
07-06-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Sale points: No complaint of livestock disease received: minister
LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has said that no complaint of livestock disease or dengue has been received at any sale point so far. He expressed these views presiding over a meeting held on Friday to review the Eid cleanliness plan and arrangements for the sacrificial animal sale points. Special Secretary Local Government Asia Gul and Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi were also present. At the same time, CEOs of waste management companies and municipal chief officers from across Punjab participated through a video link. Punjab Cattle Marketing, Management and Development Company (PCMMDC) CEO Taseer Ahmed and CEOs of waste management companies gave a presentation on the arrangements. On this occasion, he demonstrated a resolve to provide outstanding cleanliness facilities on Eid-ul-Azha, stating that this year, more work will be done than last year to achieve the targets set by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He further said that each waste management company will distribute eco-friendly waste bags for safe disposal of waste; a total of 11.698 million waste bags will be distributed across the province. It is estimated that 360,657 tons of waste will be collected during the three days of Eid, he added. According to him, currently 124,672 human resources are available under the Suthra Punjab programme; however, 15,204 additional recruitments have also been made temporarily for Eid. Currently, the number of equipment available in Punjab is 29,638, while an additional 125,794 equipment and machinery will be arranged for Eid. Moreover, 3870 primary collection centres and 4262 UC camps have been established in Punjab. Awareness camps have been activated in every city and union council where staff will be present. Moreover, he directed to setting up of control rooms in the offices of municipal committees, adding that each waste management company will monitor the cleaning operation from its control room; the central control room in Lahore will monitor the overall situation. 'In addition to the Shahpur Kanjran Model Cattle Market, five sale points are functioning in Lahore. In the remaining areas of the province, 28 markets of PCMMDC have been declared as sales points. In addition, 180 sales points have been established by the Punjab Local Government Department. Moreover, 84 cattle markets are active on their scheduled days every week,' he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Punjab gears up for safe, clean Eid
The Punjab government has launched an extensive security and sanitation operation across the province to ensure public safety and maintain hygiene during the three-day religious festival. A centralised coordination system involving the Home Department, police, local governments and waste management companies has been activated. Officials say the integrated effort aims to deliver a safe and clean environment for citizens celebrating Eid. A round the clock Central Control Room has been established in Lahore under the supervision of the Punjab Home Secretary. The Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR), the control room will monitor all districts around the clock and coordinate law enforcement efforts and government directives. Enforcement of Section 144 has been put in place in several areas of the province. The orders prohibit public slaughter of animals, swimming or boating in rivers, canals, or dams, and the disposal of animal waste into manholes or waterways. Additional bans include the use of fireworks, drones, laser lights, pigeon flying, and installation of temporary mechanical rides within a 15-kilometre radius of any airport or airbase. The home department also announced a crackdown on unauthorised collection of animal hides. "No proscribed organisation will be allowed to collect hides," a spokesperson stated. Only registered and certified charities with the Punjab Charity Commission will be permitted to do so. Lahore police have finalised an elaborate security plan for Eid, deploying over 9,000 personnel across the city. The operation will be supervised by 6 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 22 Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs), and 83 Station House Officers (SHOs). The Dolphin and PRU forces will be on high alert, with more than 1,600 officers in the field, supported by 700 traffic officers to manage Eid traffic. The Punjab Safe Cities Authority will monitor Eid congregations, mosques, and imambargahs through surveillance systems. "All religious gatherings will be under close watch, and any violation of the government's directives will result in strict action," said Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana. Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq described the sanitation plan as a "challenge," particularly as over 360,000 tons of animal waste are expected across the province during Eid. Speaking at a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat, the minister said the targets set by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz were "ambitious but achievable." To tackle the enormous cleanup task, 11.69 million biodegradable bags will be distributed. Over 124,000 sanitation workers, supported by 15,204 temporary recruits, will work under the Suthra Punjab programme. The operation will utilise 125,794 machines and vehicles, in addition to the existing 29,638 sanitation units. Officials have designated 3,870 primary collection points and 4,262 union council-level camps, along with 1,661 collective slaughter sites to discourage public slaughtering. To monitor cleanliness in real time, all waste management and municipal offices have established local control rooms, while the central control room in Lahore will oversee the province-wide operation. "There will be zero tolerance for negligence," said Minister Rafiq. "Photographic evidence of all cleaning activities must be submitted and public awareness campaigns must include participation from elected local representatives." Following Eid, authorities will spray rose water and phenyl on roads for sanitation. Additionally, 2.83 million kilograms of lime will be used to disinfect affected areas. Evening roadside sales of sacrificial animals have been strictly prohibited, and officials have been directed to conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance. "No reports of livestock-related diseases or dengue have been received so far," Minister Rafiq noted, confirming that Livestock, Municipal, and District Administration officers are working in close coordination. As the province gears up for the Eid holidays, the Punjab government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a safe, hygienic, and peaceful environment for all citizens.
Express Tribune
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Suthra Punjab neglects low-income areas
Like many projects of the Punjab government, the Suthra Punjab project too has been reserved for affluent areas. Despite the passage of four months, its scope could not be extended to the entire province, due to which the residents of low-income areas are still forced to dispose of garbage on their own. The Punjab government had launched the Suthra Punjab project for garbage collection and sanitation in the province four months ago however, the project is practically limited to advertisements, billboards and expenditures on the vehicles and uniforms of sweepers from the solid waste management companies. Till date, the sanitation system in the low-income areas of Lahore, including Wagah, Nishtar, Ravi, Samanabad, Data Ganj Bakhsh Town and other areas, remains deplorable. Except for a few posh areas of the city including Gulberg Town, Raiwind, Jati Umra and Adda Plot, garbage collection has not been started in downscale areas. Abdul Rahim, Muhammad Nasir, and Noman Naeem, three locals from Harbanspura, Nishtar Colony and Baghbanpura confirmed that more than four months had passed since the project had started -- however, the Suthra Punjab project team had still not visited their areas. 'Even today, we pay monthly charges to private garbage collectors. Although main roads in our areas are cleaned, there is no sanitation system in the streets, neighborhoods and small areas. The private garbage collector charges Rs200 to Rs500 per month from each household. We are not getting any benefit from this project, which appears operational only in government advertisements,' lamented the locals. According to information available to the Express Tribune, the outsourced Suthra Punjab program is a long-term project costing more than Rs190 billion. Under this project, garbage is to be collected from the doorsteps of citizens across all cities of Punjab. In this regard, the government has also implemented a garbage tax. However, in Lahore, despite a budget of Rs20 billion, door-to-door garbage collection has been initiated in residential areas from only 100 out of 274 union councils due to the unavailability of machinery, inattention of officers and other reasons. Moreover, the deadline for garbage collection across all 274 union councils, set for March 30th, could not be met either. According to Mian Sohail Hanif Bhandara, an urban planner, the government has started the Suthra Punjab project without an effective strategy hence more than four months have passed yet the results are yet to been seen. 'The garbage collection operation has been outsourced after dividing urban and rural areas. Due to this distinction, cleaning is done on a daily basis in a few areas, while some areas are cleaned weekly and others do not even have an effective sanitation system. If the government had started phase-wise work on the project, effective results would have been seen. Unless the solid waste companies, in collaboration with the municipality and corporation, formulate an effective plan for garbage collection, the Suthra Punjab project will not be fruitful,' assessed Bhandara. Chief Executive Officer Lahore Solid Waste Management Company (LWMC) Babar Sahib Deen claimed that on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Suthra Punjab program was successfully underway to provide garbage collection services in rural areas as it is provided in cities. 'Several complaints have been received regarding non-collection of garbage in some areas of Lahore, and these complaints are being addressed,' said Deen.
