CM Maryam orders emergency sanitation, beautification measures in Sargodha

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif ordered emergency measures to address sanitation, sewerage and beautification issues in Sargodha, setting a three-day deadline for visible improvement across the city and directing strict action against officials failing to comply.

Following the Chief Minister’s directives, Provincial Adviser Shoaib Mirza reached Sargodha and chaired an emergency meeting at the Commissioner’s Office, where it was decided that all sanitation and sewerage problems would be resolved within three days, said a handout issued here on Saturday.

The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) was directed to immediately drain stagnant water from across the city, while additional machinery under the Suthra Punjab programme was ordered to be deployed in the field.

Officials were instructed to ensure thorough cleaning and washing of roads, bazaars and streets, and to immediately complete zebra crossings and traffic safety measures outside schools. For rural areas, permanent solutions to ponds and standing water were ordered, while authorities were also directed to improve parks, green belts and road medians without delay.

The meeting further decided to restore streetlights on a priority basis and take indiscriminate action against encroachments. It was made clear that strict action would be taken against officers showing negligence, as the chief minister has set a target to make Sargodha a model city in terms of cleanliness and beautification by Eid. A progress report will be submitted to the Chief Minister after three days.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Sargodha Division Hafiz Shaukat Ali, Deputy Commissioner Sargodha Hussain Ahmed Raza Chaudhry, Additional Commissioner, Director Development, Managing Director Wasa, CEO Solid Waste Management Company, and representatives of the Municipal Corporation, District Council, Parks and Horticulture Authority, Highways Department and Local Government Department.