LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has decided to introduce artificial intelligence based monitoring for sanitation services across the province as part of a major “smart cleanliness” initiative under the Suthra Punjab programme. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, where officials briefed the participants on system improvements, AI based field operations, financial matters and progress on waste to value projects. According to the briefing, around 40,000 sanitation vehicles and 176,000 sanitation workers across Punjab will be monitored through AI supported systems. The government will also introduce AI equipped motorbikes to identify garbage points and improve real time monitoring of cleanliness operations. Officials said these motorbikes will be fitted with automated cameras capable of live image capturing and field visibility. The system will allow authorities to continuously monitor sanitation conditions and respond more effectively to complaints and waste accumulation. The chief minister also issued an alert to Suthra Punjab teams ahead of Eid al Adha and directed authorities to increase the number of waste collection centres across the province. The government is also considering on the spot fines for negligence and illegal dumping outside designated waste collection points. Under the new initiative, digital mapping and a beat system are being introduced for sanitation operations. For the first time, an AI-based complaint cell is also being established under the Suthra Punjab programme to ensure faster complaint resolution. The meeting was informed that physical verification of around 70 percent of employees has already been completed, while the process is expected to reach 100 percent by next week. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered strict action against ghost employees, absentee workers and staff members who mark attendance but leave their duty points. She directed that field monitoring of sanitation staff should be carried out through AI based systems to improve transparency and accountability. The Suthra Punjab helpline, 1139, has also been centralised to ensure 24 hour responsiveness. Officials briefed the meeting that more than 10,365 points have been cleared through deep cleaning operations, while an additional 2,029 attendance points have been established for sanitation workers. A new mobile application has also been developed for attendance and physical verification. Monitoring officers have been assigned to each union council to verify staff presence through the app. Daily meetings of managing directors have also been made mandatory to improve efficiency. The chief minister directed that salaries of employees found absent after marking attendance should be deducted. She also made it mandatory for sanitation workers to wear uniforms and ensure cleanliness of sanitation vehicles. Performance indicators for door to door cleanliness have been linked with physical verification, while container clearance will now require photographic evidence. A uniform AI-based end to end digital monitoring system is being introduced for both urban and rural areas. Maryam Nawaz also directed the early completion of the waste to value project, saying that modern technology must be used to convert waste management into a productive and transparent system. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said the Suthra Punjab programme was “closest to her heart” and described cleanliness as more than just a government campaign. “This is not merely a cleanliness project but a social transformation. Every process must be documented, transparent and aligned with KPIs,” she said. She said the programme represented a relationship of trust between the government and the public, adding that complaints must be resolved immediately and the monitoring system should be made foolproof. Maryam Nawaz said every village should have the same standard of cleanliness as cities and stressed that no area of Punjab should remain deprived of sanitation facilities. The chief minister directed officials to ensure visible improvement across the province from the next day, saying this was not merely a target but a commitment. She said cleanliness was a shared responsibility of both the government and citizens and that the initiative aimed to create awareness at the grassroots level. Referring to international examples, Maryam Nawaz cited countries such as Japan and Singapore, where cleanliness is maintained round the clock. She said field presence was essential for effective monitoring and remarked that spending one hour in the field was better than spending 100 hours in the office. She warned that no corruption or political interference would be tolerated in the project and said undocumented work would not be accepted. Calling sanitation workers “heroes,” the chief minister urged citizens to respect them and directed authorities to ensure that their wages are paid on time. The meeting concluded with the reaffirmation that Suthra Punjab, now a large-scale initiative involving billions of rupees, advanced technology and a massive workforce, must deliver complete and visible results across the province.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has sealed 125 properties across different areas of the city during operations against illegal commercial use and non-payment of commercialisation fees. On the directives of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, the authority’s Town Planning Wing launched an operation against illegal commercial buildings and defaulters within the LDA-controlled area. The actions were carried out on Canal Road, Gulshan e Ravi, Samanabad, Gulberg, New Garden Town, PIA Road and Sabzazar. According to LDA officials, teams sealed 66 properties on Canal Road, in Gulshan-e-Ravi and Samanabad over illegal commercial use, while 24 properties were sealed on PIA Road. Similarly, 20 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town over illegal commercial activity and non-payment of commercialisation fees. Officials said another 15 properties were sealed in Sabzazar during a recovery operation. The sealed properties include private schools, bakeries, pharmacies, clinics, grocery stores, beauty salons, workshops, restaurants, food points, shops, offices and other commercial establishments. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad-uz-Zaman and Chief Town Planner-II Azhar Ali. LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and properties defaulting on commercialisation fees would continue.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] Formal proceedings have begun for the construction of a new modern convention centre in Lahore. The Infrastructure Development Authority of Punjab has decided to develop a state of the art facility aimed at hosting large-scale ceremonies, exhibitions, conferences, and public and private sector events in the city. According to officials, the proposed convention centre will be constructed over an area of 248,424 square feet, while Rs 4.87 billion has been allocated for the project. The initiative is intended to strengthen Lahore’s event infrastructure and make the city more suitable for major national and international gatherings. The competent authority has invited applications from construction contractors for the project until June 4. Following the completion of the application and procedural stages, construction work is expected to begin in July or August.