LAHORE– Chief Secretary Punjab Major (retired) Azam Suleman Khan has directed all deputy commissioners (DCs) to implement the government’s instructions regarding controlling prices of eatables, drive against adulteration, Clean and Green Pakistan Campaign and utilization of funds on schemes under Annual Development Programme (ADP), saying that all these tasks would be a yardstick to determine performance and no negligence is acceptable in this regard.
The meeting was attended by Chairman Planning and Development Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh, Secretary Food Waqas Ali Mehmood, Secretary Local Government Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, Secretary Industries Zafar Iqbal, Commissioner Lahore Division Saif Anjum, Punjab Food Authority DG Irfan Memon and Deputy Commissioner Lahore Danish Afzal whereas other divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners joined the meeting through video conferencing.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chief Secretary mentioned that model bazaars can be made beneficial in real sense only when edible are available there at concessionary rates.
He directed that availability of daily-use commodities be ensured at the prices fixed by the government so that people could be provided relief from artificial price-hike.
He asked the officers not to show any leniency to the persons involved in adulteration and hoarding and take stern action against them as per law.
He ordered the deputy commissioners to regularly conduct visits to hospitals and educational institutes to check availability of medicines and behavior of doctors and staff with patients, besides taking measures for improving cleanliness in these premises.
Another direction was about monitoring of flour and sugar mills to ensure grinding of wheat as per official quota. Secretary Food Waqas Ali Mehmood briefed the Chief Secretary that all sugar mills in the province are functional at present.
Issuing instruction about Clean and Green Pakistan Campaign, the Chief Secretary said that special attention should be paid to tree plantation, and improving sanitation in districts. He announced that he would visit districts to review the work done under Clean and Green Pakistan Campaign.
He also gave directives about setting up public toilets at bazaars and other places. He said that PHAs should be made ‘fully functional’ to beautify cities and policy guidelines would be issued in this regard next week.
The Chief Secretary ordered the divisional commissioners of Lahore, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan and Gujranwala to prepare recommendations to ease the process of issuance of NOC for new petrol pumps. The business activity would not only strengthen economy but also create job opportunities, he added.
He said that process of identification of land for graveyards should be completed soon. He lauded the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners for approving more than 100 unapproved schemes under ADP in last one month, saying that work on uplift projects should be expedited with a focus on new schemes.
He directed that e-tendering for procurement in departments be started at the earliest with a view to rooting out corruption. He also told the divisional commissioners that report would be directly sought from them regarding administrative affairs of districts.— PRESS RELEASE
