Rawalpindi:Provincial Minister for Local Government, Punjab, Zeeshan Rafique along with MNA, Tahira Aurangzeb here on Thursday visited Commissioner Office Rawalpindi and presided over a meeting regarding ‘Suthra Punjab’ program.
Members of National and Provincial Assemblies of Rawalpindi Division, Chief Executive Officer, Rawalpindi Waste Management Company, Rana Sajid Safdar and other officers concerned were present on this occasion. CEO RWMC gave a detailed briefing on outsourcing of sanitation services.
The Provincial Minister said that the Punjab government wanted to bring a strong and stable local government system across the province.
The authorities concerned on the directives of Chief Minister Punjab took solid steps to make Rawalpindi Division waste free.
RWMC had completed the working on existing and additional resources required to achieve the cleanliness target, Zeeshan Rafique added.
The minister said that the existing human resources of Rawalpindi division are 2818 while 7408 would be addit
ional requirement of the division.
Regarding machinery there are 354 while additional 1558 would be required, he said adding, all required resources are being provided by Punjab Government to make the division zero waste.
The minister was informed during the meeting that pre-qualification advertisement, evaluation and pre-bid meeting with pre-qualified bidders, technical and financial evaluation of bids have been done. So far 17 out of 22 tehsils of Rawalpindi Division have been outsourced. A temporary transfer station would be established at almost every tehsil level. The cleaning and sanitation systems in rural areas would be outsourced and preference would be given to such companies which would have modern machinery.
The Minister informed that full participation of people in this sanitation system would be ensured.
An App ‘Saaf Rawalpindi’ and 1139 toll-free number have been launched for public complaints, he added.
A proposal to set up MRF plants in Rawalpindi Division to generate energy from waste i
s under consideration, Zeeshan Rafique said adding, initially, MRF plants are being set up in Gujranwala and Faisalabad divisions.
Though, the sanitation system was already working in the cities but its absence in villages was affecting the sanitation, the minister said.
The Department of Municipalities would monitor the outsourcing system digitally, he informed.
The Deputy Commissioners should set up a control room in their offices to monitor the cleanliness of Union Councils, he directed.