Lahore Division

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the establishment of special Road Maintenance Squads in every district of the province, assigning them responsibility for daily inspection, repair, cleanliness and timely rectification of damaged roads. The chief minister ordered the development of a permanent and effective maintenance mechanism to ensure that minor road defects are addressed before turning into major problems.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed that cat’s eyes be installed on designated urban roads and that thermoplastic road markings be used to ensure greater durability and improve the overall appearance of roads. She stressed that all road safety measures must comply with approved technical standards, while proper road markings, lane markings, traffic signs and directional signs must be installed and regularly maintained.
The directives were issued during a special video-link meeting chaired by the chief minister to review ongoing development projects across the province, the condition of roads, beautification of entry and exit points and the provision of public facilities.
Maryam Nawaz instructed commissioners and deputy commissioners to effectively monitor development projects in their respective districts. She said every district should have a monitoring system covering the scope, timelines, quality, expenditures and physical progress of ongoing projects.
The chief minister also issued detailed directions regarding the entry points of cities and tehsils. She ordered that conventional concrete gateways should not be constructed at city or tehsil entrances. Instead, she directed that the name of each city be prominently displayed on a landscaped green plot at its entrance.
For district entry points, modern designs should be adopted, with the entryways of Chinese cities serving as a reference, she said. At tehsil entrances, the approved design concept should be followed, while necessary modifications could be made according to the local context and identity of each area.
The chief minister further directed that attractive and functional median designs and landscaping be introduced at the entry and exit points of all districts. She also ordered that unnecessary concrete structures and planters in the middle of roads be avoided where they could obstruct traffic flow or public facilities.
Maryam Nawaz directed that electricity poles along designated roads be properly illuminated or aesthetically decorated. She said lighting installations should be energy efficient, durable, safe and easy to maintain.
Regarding footpaths, the chief minister directed that they should be visually appealing and designed with harmonious colours and modern aesthetics, while ensuring durability and pedestrian safety.
The meeting also focused on the planning and management of food streets and vegetable markets. Maryam Nawaz directed that food streets be planned as designated and separate commercial areas, equipped with appropriate infrastructure, cleanliness arrangements, parking, smooth traffic flow and effective waste management systems.
She ordered that all vegetable markets across Punjab provide easy access, cleanliness, proper traffic management and organized commercial activity for citizens and traders.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed that all development projects be completed strictly in accordance with approved designs, specified materials and relevant technical standards. She emphasized that there would be no compromise on transparency and quality in ongoing projects across the province.
The chief minister also instructed the relevant authorities to ensure effective monitoring of project timelines, construction quality, expenditures and physical progress to ensure timely and high-quality completion of development schemes.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq paid a late night visit to Hazrat Ali Hajveri Underpass and Data Darba to inspect ongoing development and finishing works during the night shift. Chief Engineer TEPA Iqrar Hussain briefed the LDA DG on progress made on the project and the various development works completed so far.
The LDA DG inspected finishing work around the Hazrat Ali Hajveri Underpass and directed the concerned officials to complete all remaining works promptly and according to the required standards, ensuring improved travel and pedestrian facilities for citizens and visitors.
Tahir Farooq said a green area and walking street had been developed outside Data Darbar, while streetlights and decorative lighting around the shrine had illuminated the entire area and enhanced its overall appearance. He said the improvements were aimed at creating a better, safer and more comfortable environment for visitors and citizens.
The LDA DG said construction of the Hazrat Ali Hajveri Underpass and remodelling of the adjoining road had resulted in a visible improvement in traffic flow in the area. The project, he added, had helped ease traffic pressure while making access to Data Darbacomparativelyasier for visitors.
Chief Engineer TEPA Iqrar Hussain told the LDA DG that footpaths had been developed along Circular Road, along with designated parking space for vehicles. These facilities, he said, would help improve pedestrian movement and traffic management in the area.
He further said finishing work on the pedestrian underpass constructed to facilitate visitors was nearing completion and would be completed shortly. The LDA DG inspected different sections of the pedestrian underpass and reviewed the quality and pace of the remaining finishing work.
Tahir Farooq also inspected the public toilets and parking area developed for visitors and directed the concerned authorities to ensure that all facilities were made fully operational and remained accessible to the public.
The LDA DG directed the relevant departments to ensure that finishing and other remaining works on the ongoing development project were completed without unnecessary delay. He also stressed maintaining high standards of cleanliness, lighting, pedestrian access and other public facilities around the project area.
Representatives of the contractor, TEPA and NESPAK were also present during the visit.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has decided to expand secret surveys and monitoring to assess the performance of the Suthra Punjab Programme and Model Village projects, particularly the quality of sanitation services and progress against prescribed targets.
According to government sources, the covert monitoring exercise will assess the gap between official claims and conditions on the ground. Officials and field staff found responsible for poor performance, irregularities or failure to meet targets may face disciplinary action.
Sources said sanitation operations, field activities and progress on Model Village projects would be closely monitored to determine whether the targets set by the government were being achieved. The Chief Minister’s Inspection Team and other relevant government agencies are being engaged in the secret survey process to conduct unannounced inspections of sanitation conditions and public services in different areas.
The survey will examine the overall standard of cleanliness, timely removal of waste, presence and performance of field staff, utilisation of available resources and the quality of services being provided to citizens. Progress on sanitation and development-related initiatives under the Model Village projects will also be assessed.
The government has made it clear that negligence, poor performance, corruption and misuse of public resources under the Suthra Punjab Programme will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against those found responsible for persistent lapses in sanitation operations or failure to address public complaints promptly.
Sources said daily digital monitoring of the programme has also been initiated. Under the system, sanitation operations, field activities and progress on various projects are being reviewed on a daily basis. The digital mechanism is aimed at maintaining performance records of relevant institutions and identifying underperforming areas at an early stage.
The government has directed the departments and field agencies concerned to further improve sanitation services, ensure full implementation of assigned targets and guarantee prompt resolution of complaints received from the public.
Officials said the secret surveys and digital monitoring were intended not merely to identify shortcomings but also to improve the quality of services delivered under the Suthra Punjab Programme and ensure that public facilities and sanitation services reach citizens effectively.