LAHORE: The World Bank has committed to providing funds totaling Rs. 16bn for upcoming development schemes planned under the Punjab Cities Programme (PCM) in various cities and towns during the next fiscal year.
Furthermore, ongoing development projects being implemented in collaboration with the World Bank as part of the PCM have reached their final stages, according to Ibrahim Murad, the Caretaker Minister for the Local Government & Community Development Department in Punjab.
Murad stated, “Currently, schemes worth Rs. 23bn are in advanced stages of progress under the PCM in 16 cities of Punjab, with collaboration from the World Bank.”
“In the next fiscal year (2023-24), additional schemes will be launched under the PCM, with the bank providing Rs16bn,” he stated.
Besides, a meeting was held to review the progress of these schemes and was attended by Syed Zahid Aziz, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Punjab Municipal Development Funds Company (PMDFC), a subsidiary of the local government department, along with other concerned officials.
The meeting reported that work on various schemes related to water supply, drainage, solid waste management, road and street construction, parks, and bus stands was progressing rapidly.
Additionally, the projects are being executed in cities such as Daska, Hafizabad, Jhelum, Kamoke, Muridke, Wazirabad, Gojra, Jaranwala, Jhang, Kamalia, Okara, Bahawalpur, Burewala, Khanewal, Kot Addu, and Vaheri.
Minister Murad emphasized the need to prioritize the provision of clean drinking water to residents in underdeveloped areas and the successful implementation of drainage projects.
The minister also stressed the importance of training local government employees to ensure transparent project completion and achieve sustainable outcomes.
He further stated that effective public grievance redressal systems, transparency, and financial management, must be followed to enhance the governance of local governments.
Source: DAWN
