Maryam Nawaz Sets One-Week Suthra Punjab Deadline, Orders Workforce and Machinery Completed, Beat System Rolled Out and Non-Performing Companies Removed

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given the Suthra Punjab programme one week to become fully operational across the province, chairing a special review meeting in Lahore on Tuesday at which she sought a comprehensive micro-plan for sanitation in Punjab.

One-week deadline and the beat system

The chief minister directed that the programme’s workforce and machinery be completed within one week and that the beat system be implemented across the province within seven days. She also sought a complete progress report on the programme by next week, along with detailed weekly reports from every tehsil on human resources, machinery and field monitoring officers. The meeting also reviewed a proposal for a dedicated app for the programme’s workers and examined the waste collection and transport flow system.

Workers’ dues and non-performing companies

The meeting agreed that the outstanding dues of Suthra Punjab workers must be paid, with the amount to be recovered from the defaulting company so that workers are not penalised for contractors’ liabilities. The chief minister ordered the removal of non-performing private companies and the activation of self-operation within a week. Under the directions, a company scoring below 80 percent in any tehsil will receive a warning, while performance below 50 percent will lead to dismissal.

Rural areas included

She also directed that sanitation in rural areas be ensured at least on alternate days, with villages cleaned and waste heaps removed, so that the programme reaches rural communities as well as cities.