By Farzana Chaudhry Lahore Pakistan

LAHORE: The sixth meeting of the Suthra Punjab Authority was held at the Darbar Hall of the Civil Secretariat with Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique in the chair.

Secretary Local Government Zaid Bin Maqsood, Director General Suthra Punjab Authority Umer Javed, Technical Members Chaudhry Jafar Iqbal, Ali Tariq, Saira Iftikhar and Muzaffar Islam attended the meeting, while all divisional commissioners participated through video link.

The meeting reviewed various matters concerning the authority, with particular focus on making anti-smog measures more effective. The participants also reviewed, on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the installation of body cameras on the uniforms of Field Monitoring Officers (FMOs).

Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique expressed his resolve to ensure full implementation of decisions taken at the recent meeting chaired by the Chief Minister. He said all concerned departments must ensure implementation of instructions issued by the Environment Department at every level at the beginning of the smog season.

He warned that strict action would be taken against those found blowing dust while cleaning roads or burning garbage.

The minister said FMOs had a fundamental role in monitoring field workers and observed that the installation of body cameras would facilitate monitoring of their movement within designated beats.

During the meeting, members of the Suthra Punjab Authority appreciated the geomapping initiative at the union council level and directed that the system be further improved.