Negligence over child safety will not be tolerated, warns minister

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jun, 2026) Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin on Saturday expressed serious concern over recent incidents of children falling into manholes and warned officials against negligence, directing all relevant departments to take immediate measures to ensure public safety.

Chairing a Punjab Development Plan (PDP) performance review meeting through video link, the minister instructed all Managing Directors of WASA across the province to submit detailed reports on hazardous manholes along with recommendations for addressing the issue. He emphasized that the ongoing desilting campaign would continue ahead of the monsoon season and directed all districts to remain fully prepared to deal with any emergency situation.

Bilal Yasin issued a final warning to officials to improve monitoring mechanisms, stating that negligence on the part of responsible officers would not be tolerated.

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He observed that changing climate patterns could result in heavier rainfall and announced that additional machinery would soon be provided to strengthen preparedness and response capacity.

The minister also directed the Director General WASA Punjab to maintain a reserve pool of machinery that could be deployed immediately to any district facing an emergency.

Reviewing progress under the Punjab Development Plan, Bilal Yasin said no negligence would be tolerated in achieving targets set for the current fiscal year. He instructed authorities to complete all arrangements, including drainage and water disposal measures along Muharram-ul-Haram procession routes, by the following day.

Reiterating the Punjab government’s commitment to public service, the minister said addressing citizens’ complaints and providing immediate relief remained among the top priorities of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.