LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said here on Thursday that cleanliness is key to preventing epidemics and diseases and focused efforts are being made to keep the city clean and green.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony of 6,000 containers of the Lahore Waste Management Company at Outfall Road, the Health Minister said that cleanliness in Lahore is being specifically monitored on directions from Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
Present on the occasion were CEO Lahore Waste Management Company Rafia Haider, GM Operations Nadeem, Abdul Ghafoor Pappu, Mian Nadeem, Mian Ali and officials of the LWMC. CEO LWMC Ms. Rafia Haider gave briefing to the Health Minister on the performance of the LWMC.
Health Minister said, “We are continuously monitoring the cleanliness of Lahore under directions from Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. The government has made available all resources required for the purpose. Over 3000 people have been hired in the LWMC. Cleanliness is half the faith. Islam emphasizes cleanliness. A healthy society can be developed only by ensuring cleanliness.
CEO LWMC Ms. Rafia Haider has rendered excellent services in the health sector especially during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the setting up of vaccination services. WASA, PHA and LDA are working jointly to ensure cleanliness of Lahore. We have received complaints of garbage piles at a few places. Lahore is heart of Pakistan and a special committee has been constituted to monitor work on cleanliness. Keeping the provincial metropolis clean will send a message to the rest of the province.
The government can make Lahore clean in partnership with citizens. The new 6000 containers have been bought for Lahore city and they will be placed at key spots in the city. As many as 950 containers have been reserved for Data Gunj Bux Town. I appeal people to throw their waste only in designated containers and not on roads. The LWMC is conducting night sweeping operations. We are trying to keep clean the city having population of over 12 million.
The LWMC’s three workshops have been made functional and all dilapidated trucks have been renovated. For Lahore, 2000 carts have been procured. I appeal people to consider Lahore as their own home and keep it clean. Steps are being taken to resolve the issue f sewerage in Lahore. A Bypass clean water system is in the process of being developed. Due to excessive load, another dumping site in Lahore is being developed.”
Speaking on the vaccination process, she said adequate stock of vaccination is available in Punjab. She said Punjab is getting 1.3 million vaccine doses. She said no major AEFI incidents have been reported in Punjab and another consignments of Astra Zenica is arriving in Punjab shortly. People having travel documents including Aqama can get vaccinated. There is no shortage of vaccine in Punjab. Pakistan has procured over 70 % vaccine from its own resources and Punjab is also receiving Moderna, Astra Zenica and Pfizer vaccines. Sinopharm and Sinovac are approved vaccines by global bodies and Foreign office is talking to USA and Saudi Arabia on this issue.
She added that public money is being spent on public. The LWMC has been directed to update their expense on their website. The protest at Expo Center was about Pfizer and Astra Zenica. The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department is supervising the supply of vaccine at all centers. People can stand in queues for hours in the USA but many Pakistanis don’t show patience for even 10 minutes. She said good work of the government must be appreciated.
Expo Center is working with collaborative efforts of the government. Punjab has vaccinated around 8.5 million people so far. The vaccine used in Punjab is safe and secure. CEO Lahore Waste Management Company Ms Rafia Haider said that the cleanliness of Lahore is being ensured as per vision of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid. The performance of the LWMC is being ensured at every cost.