CM Punjab provides 17 vehicles to MCL

Lahore; May 7
Punjab Chief Minister has provided 17 vehicles worth Rs. 222 million for provision of smooth municipal services to the Lahorites. In this regard, ceremony of handing over the vehicles was held at Town Hall, today. Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique, on behalf of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, handed over the keys of the vehicles to Deputy Commissioner/Administrator Metropolitan Corporation Rafeya Haider. New trucks, tractors and other vehicles will be added to the anti-encroachment squad of Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL). These include 12 open trucks, 2 dumper trucks, two tractors with backhoe and one wheel excavator.
Speaking to the media during the ceremony, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique said that no new vehicle was purchased for MCL for the past several years while the population has increased manifold. “Due to the shortage of vehicles, anti-encroachment operations and other services were facing difficulties”, he told.
He said that approval was given to purchase vehicles for effective operation against encroachment due to which the capacity of anti-encroachment squad has been greatly increased today. The Minister said that it is the vision of the Chief Minister to make the entire province neat and clean. “For this, an effective cleaning system is being introduced following experiences of the developed countries”, he said. Zeeshan Rafique said that the Punjab government has devised a big plan for the revamping of Lahore, the implementation of which will change the face of the city in a few months. “Under the Revamping initiative, a comprehensive plan has been prepared for maintenance and provision of municipal services at every street of Lahore”, said Rafique.
Replying a question, the provincial minister said that the previous ‘tabdeeli sarkar’ had sent running local bodies home overnight. He pointed out that Muslim League (N) has a track record of conducting local government elections and it strongly believes in local government system. “Unfortunately, even on the order of the Supreme Court, local body elections were not conducted during the previous government, but now, on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, work has been started on the preparation of the new local body act”, said the minister. On another question, he said that a comprehensive package is being brought to solve not only wheat but also other problems of farmers.