Sindh Transport Minister SharjeeL Inam Memon shares the pictures of double decker buses landed at Karachi port. PHOTO: X
LAHORE:
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) to regulate liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices across the province.
Chairing a meeting, the chief minister also sought a report within 24 hours to decide transport fares per kilometer and directed relevant officials to consider launching free transport in 17 districts where public transport is not available.
During the meeting, the impact of global oil prices on transport prices was reviewed and a detailed report was presented.
The prices of 23 essential food items, including onions, tomatoes, potatoes, bananas and pulses, across all districts were also reviewed.
Officials said flour prices in Punjab were lower compared to Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
They said pulses, fruits and vegetables were also cheaper in Punjab, with adequate stock of lentils and gram available.
The chief minister urged citizens to avoid buying goods sold above the officially notified prices and ordered strict action against hoarding of essential goods.
She directed the Assistant Commissioners to make surveys of ponds and other bodies of water in all areas and directed the Commissioners to submit daily reports on them with photographs.
Orders were also given to ensure safety measures for ponds in each union council.
The CM laid emphasis on tree plantation, prevention of dog bites, zebra crossings, street lights, green belts and other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
She also ordered the resumption of a cleanliness drive in graveyards under the Suthra Punjab programme.
Expressing displeasure over the cleanliness situation in Jhang, she ordered complete cleaning of selected union councils within 24 hours.
A detailed review of beautification and upgradation projects was conducted in all districts, including photographic inspections. The CM ordered that all such projects should be completed by June and emphasized on maintaining their quality thereafter. Projects from various cities including Attock, Rahim Yar Khan and Faisalabad were reviewed. The CM appreciated the quality of work in Attock. She also appreciated improvements in the clock tower area of ​​Faisalabad, especially the removal of roadside drainage and electrical lines.
The chief minister expressed concern over deaths caused by open drainage systems and stated that the presence of unsafe ponds will be considered administrative failure.
She expressed displeasure over complaints about garbage heaps in various cities and termed it unacceptable.
The meeting also discussed the objectives of the Suthra Punjab program in detail.
It was decided to introduce artificial intelligence-based monitoring systems, including digital mapping for real-time tracking of sanitation workers in each union council. A new AI-based complaint system named Suthra Punjab Hero will be launched along with a pilot project for AI-based waste detection vehicles.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered improvement of sanitation across the province and warned that garbage heaps in cities were unacceptable.
She also gave the relevant authorities a deadline of two weeks to improve cleanliness in the province.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her commitment to provide the best possible health and treatment facilities to the people of the entire province on World Health Day.
