LAHORE: Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique while chairing a meeting said that the work has begun on development projects in 302 villages under CM’s Model Village Programme.
Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company (PRMSC) CEO Khurram Pervez briefed the minister about development made so far. Special Secretary (Development) Asia Gul was also present, while Secretary Coordination of the CM Office participated through video link.
Minister Local Government said that the CM had initially approved the start of municipal schemes for 485 villages. "So far, the concerned District Development Committees have been approved schemes for 464 villages. PRMSC has awarded work for 357 villages while contractors have taken over responsibilities in 302 villages. The provincial minister, while directing to create a dashboard for monitoring the Model Village Programme, said that PRMSC has estimated the presence of 41,000 ponds in 22,986 villages of Punjab. "Along with the restoration of traditional ponds of the villages, water treatment plants will be installed so that healthy aquaculture can thrive in these water bodies", he added.
He said that the Model Village Programme will be completed in phases. "8,000 villages, he went on, are being included in phase one. We are trying to ensure that at least 50 villages of each provincial constituency benefit from the first phase". The minister said that the "Maryam Nawaz Ka Sohna Punjab" programme will give a new look to the villages. "Along with the construction of streets, drains and parks, water schemes will also be provided in 200 villages", he pledged.
The meeting also decided to launch a campaign to remove encroachments on the pond land. The provincial minister directed the concerned deputy commissioners to assign the task of removing encroachments observed that a reliable database of villages is also being created through the model village programme.
Zeeshan Rafique said that the CM wants to provide facilities in villages at par with those in cities. The minister, expressing satisfaction over the progress made so far, directed that quality and transparency should be taken care of at every stage of work on the schemes.
