Lahore: Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakhat has said that the Punjab government is going to formally initiate the Punjab Cities Programme (PCP) in 16 cities with the financial assistance of the World Bank – a news source reported.
He was addressing an introductory session of the PCP organized by the Punjab Local Government and the Community Development Department at a local hotel.
While detailing the features of the programme, the Finance Minister said that he expected improvements in the sewerage system and service delivery mechanisms. He added that he also expected PCP to improve the ease of doing business in each of the 16 cities.
He hoped that the provision of basic and improved infrastructure in intermediate and small cities would help increase economic activities, and promote public-private partnership.
The minister further mentioned that the five-year Punjab Cities Programme is in consonance with the new Local Government Act-2019, and will help stabilise the local government and enhance its capacity. He envisioned broadening the scope of the programme, and the facilities that it promised to common citizens, by expanding PCP to the rural areas as well, once it has been successfully implemented in the urban centres.
