Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique visits Lahore Press Club

Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique on Friday visited the Lahore Press Club where he met President Arshad Ansari, Secretary Afzaal Talib and members of the governing body

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th May, 2026) Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique on Friday visited the Lahore Press Club where he met President Arshad Ansari, Secretary Afzaal Talib and members of the governing body.

During the meeting, Arshad Ansari and Afzaal Talib briefed the minister on the activities of the Press Club and the issues being faced by journalists. The provincial minister assured the office-bearers that steps would be taken to address several matters related to the club.

Speaking to journalists, Zeeshan Rafique said the organised cleanliness network under the “Suthra Punjab” programme was growing stronger with each passing day. “For the first time, the Punjab government has reached remote areas through Suthra Punjab,” he said, adding that the initiative was being made self-sustainable on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The minister said public cooperation was essential to achieve cleanliness targets. “Insha Allah, better arrangements will be made this Eid-ul-Adha compared to the previous two years,” he said.

He appreciated the role of the media during last year’s Eid cleanliness campaign and pledged that journalists would again be kept informed about sanitation operations during the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha.

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Zeeshan Rafique said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was personally monitoring the arrangements being made for Eid-ul-Adha. He urged citizens to dispose of waste at designated collection points and support the government’s cleanliness drive.

The minister further said the “Waste to Value” project was a new experience for Pakistan and foreign technology would be introduced to further expand the programme.

He said the transition from the company model to the authority model was helping stabilise the Suthra Punjab initiative. He added that all contracts related to Punjab and Lahore development projects, including Model Village schemes, had been awarded through e-tendering in line with the government’s policy of transparent governance.

Speaking on the occasion, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari said the Suthra Punjab programme had emerged as a model for other provinces. He said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had launched several public welfare projects for the betterment of ordinary citizens.

Arshad Ansari also thanked the minister for taking interest in resolving the issues faced by the Press Club.

Later, Zeeshan Rafique offered condolences and Fateha over the death of the mother of LPC Secretary Afzaal Talib.