Maryam Nawaz orders stricter monitoring under Suthra Punjab

Workers to receive salaries by fifth of every month

Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to ensure that Suthra Punjab workers receive their salaries by the fifth of every month. She also ordered relevant companies to submit monthly reports on salary payments. Officials have been directed to take immediate action if salaries are delayed.

The chief minister further ordered that outstanding payments to Suthra Punjab contractors be cleared at the earliest. The measures are aimed at reducing financial difficulties for workers and ensuring that payment delays do not affect sanitation services.

Better waste collection ordered across Punjab

The chief minister ordered the use of uniform dustbins and garbage bags in markets, bazaars, and commercial areas. She also directed authorities to establish specific timings for waste collection from commercial areas.

Door-to-door waste collection is to be ensured across the province. Maryam Nawaz also ordered the washing and cleaning of major roads by 5am. Vacant plots in different areas are also to be cleaned as part of the wider sanitation drive.

Schools, hospitals, and parks included

The chief minister directed officials to pay special attention to cleanliness around schools, colleges, universities, and hospitals.

She also ordered the removal of empty mineral water bottles, juice cartons and other waste from parks and green belts. Special attention was ordered for cleanliness around railway tracks in urban areas.

Authorities were also directed to ensure the daily and timely cleaning of city entry and exit points. Fruit and vegetable markets were included in the cleanliness drive, with officials told to improve sanitation in these busy areas.

Shortage of workers and equipment to be addressed

Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to identify and address shortages of sanitation workers and mechanical equipment according to the needs of different areas. Additional Deputy Commissioners for Social Services will be assigned responsibility for monitoring cleanliness conditions across the province.

Deputy commissioners have also been directed to maintain regular contact with relevant contractors and managing directors of water and sanitation agencies. They will hold meetings to review cleanliness operations and resolve problems affecting service delivery.

New monitoring system planned

The chief minister ordered the development of standard operating procedures to assess performance at every level of the Suthra Punjab Programme.

The assessment will cover workers, supervisors, and officers involved in sanitation operations. She called for a zero-tolerance policy against those who fail to perform their duties.

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However, contractors will first be given 24 hours to improve their performance before fines are imposed for violations of the SOPs. Maryam Nawaz said the purpose of the policy was not to impose fines but to ensure better cleanliness across Punjab.

Suthra Punjab equipment to be cleaned regularly

The chief minister also directed authorities to ensure regular cleaning of Suthra Punjab vehicles, containers, and waste collection points. She stressed that clean streets and neighbourhoods are just as important as clean major roads.

The instructions are aimed at improving overall cleanliness and ensuring that waste does not remain at collection points for long periods. Field monitoring officers will also be provided with uniforms, while their motorcycles will carry official branding.

Some districts praised, others told to improve

During the meeting, the performance of Lahore, Khanewal, Okara, Attock, Kasur, and Murree, among other areas, was appreciated. However, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, and several other areas were directed to improve their performance.

The varying performance shows that the government is seeking more consistent implementation of the Suthra Punjab Programme across the province. Officials will now be expected to follow the new monitoring arrangements and improve areas where sanitation standards remain below expectations.

Next review meeting in seven days

Maryam Nawaz said Suthra Punjab was very important to her and called for further efforts to achieve better results.

She directed officials to ensure that the latest instructions are implemented without delay. The chief minister has summoned another meeting after seven days to review progress and assess whether her directives have been properly implemented.