Latest news with #ZeeshanRafiq
Business Recorder
21 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab plans uniform development under CM's vision
LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has said that planning has been done for the work on the Punjab Development Programme as per the Chief Minister's vision of uniform development in all areas. He expressed these views while chairing a meeting held on Tuesday to review the progress on the Punjab Development Programme (PDP). Special Secretary Arshad Baig and Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi attended the meeting while Syed Zahid Aziz, Managing Director of Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC), gave a briefing on the development made so far. On this occasion, the Minister directed the implementation of PC-1 as per the guidelines issued to PMDFC, saying all possible steps are being taken for the early start of the project. He urged that work should be done on the lines of the Lahore Development Programme (LDP) and it should be adopted as a model. 'The completion of the project will meet the needs of the cities for the next 25 years,' he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
100,000 sanitary workers to get reward money
LAHORE: Reward money announced by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will be distributed among more than 100,000 workers of the Suthra Punjab Programme on June 21 (today) for their performance during the grand operation on Eid-ul-Azha. In this regard, a ceremony will be held at the tehsil level across Punjab in which the workers will be invited. This decision was taken during a meeting that was chaired by Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq on Friday. Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gul, Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi, Deputy Commissioners and chief officers of municipal bodies were also present. The Minister said that instead of calling all the workers on the same day, if necessary, the reward money can be distributed among the remaining people on the next day. He said the Chief Minister had announced the reward of Rs 10,000 each for over 100,000 workers who worked hard and with commitment during the hot weather on the Eid days. 'The workers worked hard during the scorching sun, and thus we saw exemplary cleanliness on Eid-ul-Azha. Hence, the Punjab government announced the reward to recognise the hard work put in by the workers,' he added. He directed the officials concerned to invite elected representatives to the ceremonies, observing that public representatives also played a full role in the awareness campaign during the grand operation. On this occasion, the Secretary said that bank drafts will be transparently given to the workers, adding that no worker of the Clean Punjab Programme should be deprived of the prize money. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Rs40bn uplift plans for Bahawalpur division approved
LAHORE: The Punjab Local Government and Community Development Department has approved development schemes worth over Rs 40 billion for four cities in Bahawalpur division which include Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar and Hasilpur. In this regard, Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq chaired a meeting; Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gul and Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi were present in the meeting while the Commissioner Bahawal-pur, concerned deputy commissioners and municipal officers participated through a video link. While addressing the meeting, the Minister said that under the supervision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, continuous progress is being made in the Punjab Cities Development Programme. He urged the deputy commissioners to pay special attention to the master planning of the cities; 'the deputy commissioners will be responsible for completing the projects under the Punjab Cities Development Progra-mme,' he added. He further said that under this mega project, not only will the existing infrastructure be restored in the cities, but it will also be further expanded. 'Programme Implemen-tation Units (PIUs) will be formed to ensure quality work in each scheme, while Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) will be responsible for third-party validation,' he added. He added that special attention should be paid to the construction of parks, street lights and rainwater storage tanks. He also directed the officials to review the cantonment areas of Bahawalpur, stressing if there is any dirt road or broken road in the cantonment, it should also be taken into consideration. During the meeting, it was decided to increase the capacity and number of disposal stations in Bahawalpur city. The Minister, while directing the deputy commissioner to review PC-1 for Rahim Yar Khan, said that all disposal stations in every city will be shifted to solar energy. 'It is gratifying that solarisation in Bahawalpur alone will save about Rs 20 million on monthly electricity bills. With an annual saving of Rs 240 million, many more civic amenities can be provided,' he observed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Faisalabad Division: Rs48.55bn schemes approved for 7 cities
LAHORE: The Punjab Local Government and Community Development Department has approved schemes worth Rs48.55 billion for seven cities of the Faisalabad division under the Chief Minister Punjab Cities Development Programme (CMPCDP). The proposed schemes involve rehabilitation of streets, link roads, sewage, drains, street lights and parks in Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala, Tandlianwala, Jhang, Kamalia, Toba Tek Singh and Gojra. It also approved a 10-kilometre extension of the approved sewerage system of Gojra. A steering committee headed by Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq will monitor the entire project. In this connection, the Minister chaired a meeting on Wednesday; Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gul, and Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi were present, while concerned deputy commissioners and municipal chief officers participated through a video link. Moreover, Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz briefed the meeting minister about the development made so far. While addressing the meeting, the Minister said that CMPCDP is a unique project under which schemes are being launched in 61 cities from the new financial year. 'In the next phase, the problems of sewage and urban flooding that have existed for decades in over 110 cities will be solved. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered to meet the needs of urban populations until 2050 under this project. For the first time, such a huge investment is being made in cities, which will bring a new beautiful face to Punjab and get rid of dirty streets and expired sewage systems,' he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Development projects will be launched in 66 cities of Punjab'
LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has said that development projects under the Chief Minister Punjab Cities Development Programme (CMPCDP) will be launched in 66 cities from the next fiscal year; it has been designed keeping in mind the needs of cities till 2050. He expressed these views while chairing a meeting held on Tuesday to review the CMPCDP. Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian and Additional Secretary Ahmar Kaifi were also present at the meeting while deputy commissioners of various districts participated in the meeting through a video link. On this occasion, Syed Zahid Aziz, Managing Director of Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) gave a briefing on the Punjab Cities Development Programme. The Minister further said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the provision of basic amenities in all cities, and the dirt streets will be paved on the lines of the Lahore Development Programme. 'Under this mega project, along with the repair of link roads in the cities, a sewage system will also be developed; lining sewer pipes will be used, which would remain effective for 100 years. Moreover, storm water drainage and storage are a special part of this programme and in the next phase, an additional 110 cities will be brought under the purview,' he added. He directed the deputy commissioners to ensure the implementation of the steering committee's decisions, stating that contracts for the project should be awarded only through e-tendering. 'Quality and transparency should be kept in mind at every stage,' he added. Rafiq said that only the available manpower should be utilised for the Punjab Cities Development Programme; however, the services of technical experts may be obtained additionally. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
