Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Lahore: Lahore Divisional Commissioner Zaid-bin-Maqsood, chairing a coordination meeting here on Monday, reviewed the important initiatives for the city's development.

The district administration briefed the meeting on several key programs scheduled for February and March, including the Horse and Cattle Show, Champions Trophy, Regional Conference, and Faiz Festival.

The commissioner emphasized the importance of detailed micro-planning to ensure smooth execution of these events.

In addition, the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) provided an update on the cleanliness planning for both commercial and domestic areas in Lahore.

The meeting also focused on ongoing efforts by the Traffic Police and District Administration to remove illegal encroachments from key areas. Authorities confirmed that joint operations to clear encroachments from city intersections and major roads were continuing.

The commissioner reviewed the traffic flow measures, specifically road markings, zebra crossings, and signage, to ensure safe traffic movement during the events. Additionally, the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) was directed to revisit the traffic U-turn on Jail Road to improve traffic management.

Collaboration between agencies was also a focal point of discussion, with the commissioner directing the Lahore Ring Road Authority and Traffic Police Lahore to work jointly on improving traffic discipline on service lanes. Further suggestions were discussed for better traffic flow in market areas during upcoming events.

Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza, Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Tahir Farooq, DG Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Tahir Watoo, CTO Lahore Dr. Muhammad Athar Waheed participated.

The meeting underscored the importance of a unified approach to managing the city's logistics and ensuring the success of these major programs.

Lahore: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) Monday entered into an agreement with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to enhance efficacy of its SME Registration Portal (SMERP). The agreement was signed by Socrat Aman Rana, CEO SMEDA and Muhammad Waseem Bhatti, Director General (GDS)-PITB on behalf of their organizations at a signing ceremony held in a local hotel.

A large number of the representatives from the business community, banking industry and the public sector were also present. Highlighting the key objectives of the agreement, CEO SMEDA Socrat Aman Ran told that the SMEDA was already operating a PITB-developed Small and Medium Enterprise Registration Portal (SMERP), which required further development and enhancement for addition of advanced features, integrations, mobile application and expansion. The SMEDA and PITB, after having mutual understanding of the requirement, have agreed to accomplish a set scope of work as a joint venture, he said adding that the agreement with the PITB would add value to SMERP, which will not only improve SME certification and grant management system, but would also upgrade One Window/Mobile App facility, SME Registry's networking with other useful data resources and E-Commerce Platform linkages with many more online services.

Muhammad Waseem Bhatti, DG (GDS)-PITB, while exchanging the documents of agreement with CEO SMEDA, assured to achieve the objectives and goals assigned by the SMEDA in the given scope of work. He appreciated that in the era of information technology, the SMEDA was endeavoring hard to provide the local SMEs with the word-class online facilities. He applauded the modern approach of CEO SMEDA in this regard.

Lahore: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq and Chief Minister's Special Assistant on Political Affairs Zeeshan Malik inaugurated the door-to-door waste collection programme in the provincial capital on Monday. Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Chairman Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) Bilal Zulfiqar Khokhar and CEO Babar Sahib Din were also present during a ceremony held at Nishtar Town. Addressing the ceremony, the provincial minister said that initially the collection of waste from houses had been started from the relatively backward area of Nishtar Town. "The scope of door-to-door waste collection will be extended to all areas in a phased manner. I congratulate the LWMC for carrying forward the vision of the chief minister", he said. He added that door-to-door waste collection had started in 25 union councils of Lahore. " The LWMC will add 2 or 3 union councils every day", he pledged. He expressed his determination t hat 100 union councils will be brought under th is scope by January 31 and the whole city by mid-March. Zeeshan Rafiq said that Clean Punjab was not a campaign but the name of an organized cleanliness movement. He emphasized that no movement could succeed without the support of citizens. "Zinda Dilan Lahore are requested to support the government's efforts to make the city ideal," he added. On this occasion, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Zeeshan Malik said that Suthra Punjab programme was a game changer for which credit went to the chief minister. "We all have to beautify the city along with our homes", he added.