LAHORE: Senior minister Aleem Khan has approved outsourcing of the Lahore Parking Company’s 136 parking points in the first phase with an observation that the public sector companies have become “dens of corruption”.

Presiding over a company meeting here on Monday, Mr Khan said the 136 parking points in Gulberg, on The Mall and in Allama Iqbal Town areas would be outsourced. He added that he would be striving to bring able and honest officers to take practical steps to redress the masses’ issues.

He said by only plugging pilferage of funds huge amounts could be saved and spent on construction of parking plazas to meet future requirements of the city.

The senior minister ordered beginning of the bidding process to invite companies of international repute to work on the public sector projects.

He called for introducing e-ticketing, besides issuance of daily, weekly and monthly parking cards.

The minister ordered regularisation of all private companies under the umbrella of the LPC and ensuring uniform policy in the city. He also directed the company to devise a strategy to minimise expenses and increase income.

He said there should be no exemption for parking fees, except recreational parks for the public.

Mr Khan stressed that future expansion planning should be made keeping in view the public-private partnership as a lot of work could be done through this model.

“Malpractices and irregularities in the past have brought the companies on the verge of destruction, but now either they will perform or be ready for closure,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2019