LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has issued a directive mandating improvements in the Suthra Punjab operations within a one-week period. She has called for the removal of underperforming private contractors and the activation of self-operated services, as part of a comprehensive effort to enhance sanitation services across the province.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the chief minister presided over a meeting focused on the sanitation arrangements within the province. During the meeting, she requested a detailed micro-plan for cleanliness and a progress report on the programme by the following week. The meeting addressed various aspects including the performance of sanitation companies, waste collection systems, workforce availability, and field monitoring arrangements.

Chief Minister Sharif directed the implementation of the Suthra Punjab beat system throughout the province within seven days. She instructed that warnings be issued to sanitation companies performing below 80 percent in any tehsil, with those scoring under 50 percent to be removed. Additionally, she mandated the termination of non-performing private companies and the activation of self-operated sanitation services within the same timeframe.

The chief minister emphasized the importance of ensuring the rights of sanitation workers, directing officials to address their outstanding dues and to recover arrears from defaulting companies. She highlighted that workers should not bear the consequences of contractors’ unpaid liabilities and called for a legal mechanism to guarantee timely salary payments.

To enhance rural sanitation, the chief minister directed that cleanliness be maintained at least on alternate days, with accumulated garbage removed from villages. She requested weekly reports detailing human resources, machinery, and field monitoring officers in each tehsil to assess operational performance.

Assistant commissioners and relevant Suthra Punjab in-charges will be held accountable for any failures in sanitation services. Anti-littering squads have been active across the province, conducting 264,000 visits to issue warnings and raise awareness about sanitation standard operating procedures. The chief minister acknowledged the performance of Chakwal Deputy Commissioner Sarah Hayat and her team for their contributions to the district’s sanitation efforts. The meeting also discussed a proposal to develop a dedicated mobile application for Suthra Punjab workers.