Inaugurating Clean and Green Index Punjab and Clean and Green Punjab campaign, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar Tuesday said that provincial government in collaboration with World Bank is going to launch a comprehensive project to cope with the challenge of climate change.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Clean and Green Punjab Campaign in Lahore Tuesday, the CM said Pakistan, especially Punjab, had been affected most by climate change. He also got registered at the portal as a clean and green champion.

Addressing the gathering, Usman Buzdar said climate change, smog and natural calamities were affecting cities and overcoming them has become a major challenge. "Prime Minister Imran Khan raised voice against climate change at the international forum while the Punjab government is following the vision of clean and green Pakistan," the CM said, adding: "Local governments have been established under Punjab Local Government Act and Commissioners and DCs have been given the charge of administrators."

He said administrative officers would have to set new trends for clean and green Punjab so that the elected representatives could take the administrative officers as role models. He said healthy competition would be held with regard to the clean and green program among 319 local governments and clean and green Punjab competitions are being held in the province on the pattern of the federal government. As many as 12 districts in Punjab province and seven KPK districts had been chosen for national-level competitions, he added.

He said decision would be made about the performance of 319 local governments in cleanliness competitions on the basis of their performance which would be based on seven points and best performing districts and their administration would be appreciated at the national and local level. He asked the field officers to deliver so that Punjab could lead to the clean and green campaign. Punjab government would provide every possible support as it was an important project which could never be ignored, he added.

Advisor to PM Malik Amin Aslam said that planting 10 billion trees programme had proved very successful in KPK and Punjab was also vigorously taking part in trees' plantation program.

Law Minister Raja Basharat and Housing Minister Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed also spoke on this occasion.

Secretary local government said Prime Minister Imran Khan would announce the names of best performers on March 23 and added that chief minister had given approval to recruit 25,000 sanitary workers and sewer men.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019