LAHORE: A special conference on the Suthra (clean) Punjab initiative was held on Friday under the chairmanship of the Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan at the assembly building, where a briefing on the cleanliness programme was given to members, who suggested measures to make it more effective.

Heads of local government institutions and deputy commissioners from across the province also joined the meeting.

It was the first such event held at the Punjab Assembly instead of a session, that was displayed on a large screen via video link in the assembly chamber.

During the conference, the speaker and the members of the house gave useful suggestions, as the local government minister assured them that the province would become cleaner through the new system.

Amid boycott by the opposition members, minister Zeeshan Rafique gave a detailed briefing to the treasury MPAs about the cleanliness programme launched in all districts.

Opposition boycotts PA speaker’s conference

He promised thatthe Rs120 billion project would eliminate the cleanliness-related issues once for all in the province. He clarified that the government won’t purchase any machinery for the project, as contractors would arrange it.

Speaker Ahmad Khan suggested setting up a complaints commission and a monitoring system at the provincial level, with the secretary and minister as its heads and MPAs its members.

He criticised associating the sanitation services with the Christian community, calling it inappropriate and unjust.

He stressed the importance of ensuring equal rights for minorities, recognising the Christian community as a vital part of society.

The minister said that 60,000 tonnes of waste is collected daily in Punjab, and a modern waste management system is being implemented to ensure its efficient disposal.

He said that over 100,000 job opportunities would be created under the project that would aligning the cleanliness system with international standards.

Additionally, he said, door-to-door waste collection will be introduced in rural areas for the first time. To ensure transparency, a points system and community monitoring framework will also be introduced, he added.

Though a majority of treasury members appreciated the project, some of them took it with a grain of salt, regretting that the new system of cleanliness has not yet been fully implemented, while the old system has been wrapped up, resulting in piles of garbage lying in different districts, asking, “Who will clean it?”

Saira Afzal Tarar raised concerns over the current state of sanitation, urging improvements in resource allocation and infrastructure for effective implementation of the programme.

Minority MPA Shakeela Javed stressed the need for giving equal rights to minorities, condemning the stereotype linking of sanitation jobs with the Christian community.

She called for practical measures to address the community’s grievances and ensure social justice.

The conference concluded with a comprehensive discussion and a unanimous commitment to promptly implement the new sanitation system.

Prominent participants included Local Government Secretary Mian Shakeel and Lahore Waste Management Company CEO Babar Nadeem.

Bhachar: The opposition in the Punjab Assembly on Friday boycotted “Suthra (clean) Punjab Conference” convened by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, saying the issue should have been tabled in the assembly session, where they (opposition) could participate in the debate.

By converting it into a conference, the speaker has effectively excluded the opposition from the debate and made it into a one-sided affair, the Leader of Opposition, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, told the media.

He said the opposition was boycotting the conference as this change of plan was done without taking it on board.

“We should have been taken into confidence before change of plan,” Bhachar insisted, saying the opposition also does not accept the “lopsided” priorities of the provincial government.

He said the Punjab government was investing Rs1,600 per person in Lahore cleanliness drive, while only Rs250 per capita were being spent in other parts of the province.

“We are not opposed to investing in Lahore, but only pleading that these basic necessities must also be ensured for those living outside Lahore,” Mr Bhachar said.

The government also needs to amend its definition of “suthra Punjab,” he said, rhetorically asking whether law and order or police performance was not included in the clean Punjab?

“Are farmers’ woes also not included in that definition [of suthra Punjab]?”

He said the government was “sucking life” out of farmers and farming on one hand, and trying to take political mileage out of “cosmetic measures” on the other.

Bachar said the government hurt farmers early this year when it refused to procure wheat at the price it had announced itself. Wheat has been sown yet again, without any support price, he regretted.

“Sugarcane crushing has started without the announcement of official price of cane. Are not these issues part of governance or should they not be,” Bachar wondered.

He also dispelled the impression that a deal has been struck between the government and PTI founder Imran Khan, saying no compromise was acceptable to the party or its leader.

“We have principled stand on all issues like judicial commission on May 9 and Nov 26 violence, and will stick to it, come what may,” he declared.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2024