LAHORE: The board of directors (BoD) of the Lahore Waste Management Company - city’s premier civic agency responsible for the daily waste collection and disposal - on Tuesday approved Rs15 billion annual budget for the fiscal year 2022-23.

In its 128th meeting presided over by chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hassan/adviser to the chief minister, the board while approving minutes of the last 127th meeting and paying tributes to the employees of the company for their excellent cleaning arrangements on Eidul Azha, also accorded approval to one-month basic salary/bonus to the staffers.

The Rs15bn annual budget would be spent on carrying out activities related to cleaning the city. “We have also approved a proposal seeking increase in the basic salary of the sanitary workers keeping in view their financial hardships after surge in the price of petrol and inflation,” said Mr Hassan while speaking on the occasion.

He said in view of the current inflation and the increase in the price of petrol, the company would also be able to receive additional grants up to Rs5bn whenever required.

“The LWMC always strives to maintain the best sanitation system in the city of Lahore as all resources are being used to achieve this goal,” he said, adding that in order to provide best cleanliness facilities to the citizens, the budget of the company would be used transparently.

DELEGATION: A delegation of Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association called on secretary (industries and commerce) Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday. The delegation was led by PVMA chairman Tariqullah Sufi. During the meeting, the prices of ghee and availability of palm oil were reviewed.

“The benefit of reduction in the prices of palm oil in the international market will be passed on to the people after which the prices of ghee will be fixed in consultation with the stakeholders,” said Dr Qazi while speaking on the occasion.

Tariqullah Sufi said on the occasion that the prices of ghee should be fixed keeping in view the duties, taxes and dollar rates imposed by customs and other departments. “The supply of ghee will be ensured at fixed prices by the government,” he added.

DG (industries) Imran Hamid Sheikh and Arif Qasim of PVMA and other members were also present in the meeting.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2022