LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on Tuesday sought “viable and concrete” proposals for the new local bodies act, stating that empowering elected representatives would help serve the masses in a befitting manner.
Presiding over a briefing session of Local Government Department at the Civil Secretariat, Aleem Khan asked to keep in view the local bodies’ acts of 2001 and 2013 and draft new priorities accordingly, which, he said, would prove beneficial for the people of Punjab.
The minister said that able and hardworking officers would be fully supported but no recommendations would be made for the corrupt and inefficient ones. He also directed to launch cleanliness and anti-encroachment campaigns throughout the province.
“I will personally monitor the situation in Lahore as well as other cities and take on spot action against anyone not performing his or her duties properly.”
He said that people had great expectations from the incumbent government and so no compromises would be made on the quality of work. Aleem also vowed to bring changes in the solid waste management system and take effective measures in this regard so that complaints of the people could be addressed.
He said that he believed in teamwork and, with collective efforts, steps would be taken to move forward in the right direction. The senior minister said that he would soon be meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to discuss new local bodies system as well.
Earlier, Local Bodies Secretary Arif Anwar Baloch briefed Aleem about the different sections of the department and informed him of the solid waste management system, urban improvement companies and their fate.
He also told the minister that there were 182 municipal committees, 10 metropolitan and 35 district councils working in the province, while different urban and rural development agencies were also there to serve the people. Arif also apprised Aleem about the arrangements of the department to maintain cleanliness on Eid.
Local Government special secretary and other officers concerned also attended the briefing session and gave presentations about their respective sections.