Free transport in unserved districts likely

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) to regulate liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices across the province. Presiding over a meeting, the chief minister also sought a report within 24 hours to determine transport fares per kilometre and directed relevant officials to consider launching free transport in 17 districts where public transport is unavailable. During the meeting, the impact of global oil prices on transport fares was reviewed, and a detailed report was presented. Prices of 23 essential food items, including onions, tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, and pulses, across all districts, were also reviewed. Officials said flour prices in Punjab were lower compared to Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. They said pulses, fruits and vegetables were also cheaper in Punjab, with sufficient stock of lentils and gram available. The chief minister urged citizens to avoid purchasing items sold above officially notified prices and ordered strict action against hoarding of essential commodities. She instructed the assistant commissioners to conduct surveys of ponds and other water bodies in every area and directed the commissioners to submit daily reports about them with photographs. Orders were also given to ensure safety measures for ponds in every union council. The CM emphasised focus on tree plantation, dog bite prevention, zebra crossings, street lights, green belts, and other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). She also ordered resumption of a cleanliness drive in graveyards under the Suthra Punjab programme. Expressing displeasure over the cleanliness situation in Jhang, she ordered complete cleaning of selected union councils within 24 hours. A detailed review of beautification and upgradation projects in all districts was conducted, including photographic inspections. The CM ordered that all such projects be completed by June and emphasised maintaining their quality afterward. Projects of various cities, including Attock, Rahim Yar Khan, and Faisalabad, were reviewed. The CM appreciated the quality of work in Attock. She also appreciated improvements at the Clock Tower area in Faisalabad, particularly the removal of roadside drainage and electric wires. The chief minister expressed concern over deaths caused by open drainage systems and stated that the presence of unsafe ponds will be considered administrative failure. She showed displeasure over complaints of garbage piles in different cities, calling it unacceptable. The meeting also discussed the targets of the Suthra Punjab programme in detail. It was decided to introduce artificial intelligence-based monitoring systems, including digital mapping for real-time tracking of sanitation workers in every union council. A new AI-based complaint system named Suthra Punjab Hero will be launched, along with a pilot project for AI-based waste detection vehicles. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered improvement of sanitation across the province and warned that garbage heaps in cities were unacceptable. She also gave the relevant authorities a two-week deadline to improve cleanliness in the province. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her commitment to providing the best possible healthcare and treatment facilities to the people across the province on World Health Day.