Maintaining cleanliness: Week-long drive in DI Khan draws criticism from people

TMO, others who ensure cleanliness have become private servants of PTI, say insiders

DI KHAN: Although a week-long cleanliness drive has been launched in DI Khan to keep public spaces clean, locals believe the initiative will not yield positive results.

The initiative was launched by the district administration in Topanwala Bazaar on December 19. Minister for Revenue Ali Amin Gandapur is associated with the campaign.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday, the revenue minister said the cleanliness drive will ensure DI Khan becomes a cleaner city.

“During the campaign, blocked drains, streets, and bazaars will be cleaned,” he said. “People should cooperate with the district government to make this drive a success.”

However, locals have voiced reservations about the cleanliness campaign and believe it will not yield the desire effect.

Habib Noor, a café owner, told The Express Tribune, “The government plans to make DI Khan a clean city with the cooperation of people. However, the drive lacks public trust.”

He added the lack of discipline on the streets has affected his business.

“Rickshaws and roadside vendors have made it difficult for me to run my business smoothly,” he said. “Picking up a broom to clean the city won’t yield results. There is a need to restructure the system and devise a long-term plan.”

An insider told The Express Tribune Tehsil Municipal Committee Officer Umar Kundi and other employees, who are responsible for ensuring cleanliness in the district, have become private servants of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf officials.

“They have been accused of arranging programmes for the party at DI Khan’s Circuit House,” he said. “As a result, they have become negligent towards their duties. This will affect the cleanliness drive.”

Abu Azam Turabi, a journalist based in the district, said, “Whatever name is given to the cleanliness drive, it will not succeed unless the government takes positive steps to solve issues like corruption and unpaid salaries being faced by the employees of town municipal administration.”

He added, “Launching a cleanliness drive once a year will not bring any change.”  According to Turabi, contractors were given the responsibility to ensure drains were cleaned. “NGOs were also involved in the process,” he said. “But it was a mere waste of funds as the drains are still in a deplorable condition.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2015.