Commissioners must be visible in field, not air-conditioned offices: Maryam Nawaz

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday directed divisional commissioners to intensify field monitoring and warned against negligence in civic management, saying administrative officers must deliver visible public relief instead of “eye wash” measures.

Chairing a meeting of commissioners in Lahore, Maryam approved a number of public welfare projects to be financed through local revenue and reviewed progress on development and sanitation initiatives across the province.

Commissioners from Sahiwal, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Multan divisions briefed the meeting on ongoing projects and administrative performance.

“I do not want eye wash, I want ground work,” Maryam said, adding that commissioners should be visible in the field rather than sitting in air-conditioned offices.

Referring to the recent death of a girl who fell into an open pit in Faisalabad division, the chief minister warned that owners of housing societies would face arrest if any citizen fell into an uncovered manhole.

She directed the authorities concerned to obtain monthly affidavits from housing societies confirming that no open manholes existed within their jurisdictions.

Maryam also ordered strict monitoring of public and private school buildings and instructed officials to ensure construction sites were cordoned off in accordance with standard operating procedures.

She directed commissioners to personally conduct field visits and ensure deep cleaning operations in all tehsils.

“Some officers are performing well while others are merely creating an eye wash,” she said, adding that the scale of work visible on the ground did not match government expectations.

“If work is being done, the public should feel relief,” she added.

Calling commissioners the “eyes, ears and arms” of the government, Maryam said district administrations would have to justify the trust placed in them and that there was no room for negligence.

She also stressed that monitoring mechanisms should be strengthened and reiterated that merit, rather than favouritism or recommendations, would guide official decisions.

During the meeting, the chief minister expressed concern over damaged roads in Sahiwal and directed authorities to construct roads of “international standard” in the division.

She ordered that footpaths be built level with roads and directed officials to develop an attractive entry point for Sahiwal city.

Maryam further instructed authorities to install solar lights on Okara’s Main Akbar Road and floodlights at Jinnah Stadium in Okara.

She also directed beautification of Chichawatni Chowk and warned that encroachments and obstacles affecting urban beautification would not be tolerated.

The chief minister ordered completion of the Sargodha division development scheme by Sept. 30 and called for uniformity and consistent quality standards across all development projects.

“No compromise will be made on the quality of work in any project,” she said.