CM Maryam puts Punjab on monsoon alert, orders sweeping emergency preparedness

• Punjab CM places all line departments on high alert, directs round-the-clock vigilance to protect lives and property

• Tells Rescue 1122, WASA, PDMA and district administrations to ensure rapid drainage, emergency response and traffic management

• Orders special monitoring of nullahs, canals, vulnerable buildings and construction sites as monsoon begins

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday put all provincial line departments on high alert as the monsoon season commenced, directing commissioners, deputy commissioners and field officers across Punjab to maintain round-the-clock preparedness, ensure rapid emergency response and safeguard lives and property through coordinated measures.

The chief minister said that with the monsoon season having begun in Punjab, all concerned officers and staff must remain vigilant, adding that there was no room for negligence or irresponsibility.

She directed the authorities to ensure the immediate drainage of rainwater and ordered continuous monitoring of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) operations. She also instructed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Control Room and District Emergency Operation Centres across the province to remain fully alert.

The chief minister ordered Rescue 1122, WASA and other emergency services to keep their personnel and machinery on standby. She also directed the authorities to ensure the swift drainage of water from low-lying areas and water accumulation at identified choking points.

Punjab CM ordered continuous monitoring of stormwater drains and nullahs, directing officials to ensure that rainwater did not remain stagnant in urban areas.

She instructed the Irrigation Department to keep its teams on high alert and continuously monitor water flow in canals. She also ordered that all manholes in urban and rural areas must remain properly covered and directed the authorities to ensure all necessary safety measures during the monsoon season.

The chief minister further ordered that adequate safety arrangements be made at construction sites to prevent any untoward incidents during rainfall and directed special monitoring of dilapidated and structurally vulnerable buildings.

She also instructed the authorities to make special arrangements to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on major highways and main roads, directing the Safe City Authority and the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) teams to remain on full alert.

The chief minister further ordered all field teams to remain fully prepared to maintain public guidance and communication for traffic management and to safeguard the lives and property of citizens.

She emphasised that all relevant departments must remain active and fully vigilant to ensure the protection of the public during the monsoon season.

CM directs education minister to teach one class every week

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat to personally teach one class every week at a public school as part of efforts to strengthen oversight and improve the quality of education in the province.

Chairing a special meeting on school education, the chief minister also ordered a review of the digital mechanism for the registration of private schools and sought proposals for the registration of tuition centres across Punjab. She further directed officials to devise a mechanism for the digital mapping of tuition centres.

The meeting was informed that the target of enrolling 4.3 million students in public schools had been achieved within two years and four months, marking the highest genuine enrolment recorded in government schools in recent years.

Punjab CM also made digital payment mandatory for the disbursement of salaries to teachers working under the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF). Under the initiative, bank accounts will be opened for 138,000 PEF teachers.

The meeting received a detailed briefing on the Punjab School Reforms Programme (PSRP) and reviewed prospects for generating revenue through innovative means.

The chief minister sought a comprehensive plan on innovative revenue generation for the school education sector.