LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday accorded approval for the establishment of a Punjab Performance Management Unit,’ to ensure systematic, real-time evaluation of government departments and field administration across the province. This unit will oversee the ‘Suthra Punjab Programme,’ including cleanliness, solid waste collection, and drainage and sewerage systems in every city. It will also monitor the availability and pricing of flour, bread and essential food items, ensure enforcement of the ban on wall chalking and supervise campaigns aimed at protecting children from stray dogs. The scope of performance indicators will include the condition of parks and graveyards, as well as the regulation of pushcart markets, supply of food items and price control. The initiative marks for the first time in the province’s history that a centralized, technology-driven system will be used to measure and monitor the performance of government departments, with direct oversight by the chief minister. On the directions of the Chief Minister, CMIT units will also be established at divisional and district levels to strengthen implementation and monitoring. The Chief Minister also chaired a meeting in this regard. The CM decided that she would personally conduct province-wide live monitoring through a central dashboard of the Performance Management Unit. The meeting, which was briefed by Chairman CM Complaint Cell Shoaib Mirza, reviewed key public issues including open manholes, inflation, stray dogs, wall chalking, overflowing drains, graveyards, pushcart markets and the overall performance of government institutions. The meeting also approved the creation of a Virtual Tour Wall, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Punjab. Through this system, the Chief Minister will be able to monitor attendance and on-ground performance of officers and officials across the province. It was stated that civic hazards, encroachments and urban safety risks will no longer remain unchecked under the new monitoring framework. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025