CDA left to collect trash

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) would have to collect piles of trash from different areas of the city after citizens' independence celebrations. The residents during celebrations enjoyed the freedom of throwing garbage anywhere with impunity.

The federal capital's parks, grounds and other recreational spots witnessed a massive influx of visitors from different parts of the country to mark national Independence Day but left heaps of garbage, inviting the attention of critics’ who asked them to exhibit responsibility to keep the city clean.



CDA Director Sanitation Sardar Khan Zimri informed that some 200 sanitation workers were assigned on Wednesday to collect heaps of garbage from different places of the capital to avoid repercussions of the filth that may cause a break out of viral diseases besides giving the capital an untidy look.

However, Director Sanitation admitted that installing more bins was a major requirement to cover maximum areas, but citizens were not fully using the already available bins and throwing trash at their own will. He said there was a scarcity of financial resources to add more bins and initiate a public awareness campaign.



He also held the public responsible for littering and regretted that only 20 percent people care about cleanliness.  "There is a dire need to employ short-term punitive measures and evolve campaigns against anti-littering by the civic agency,” said SMEC oil and gas company Managing Director Tasadaq Malik. Tasadaq who is voluntarily working on different projects in Islamabad from cleanliness to tree plantation drives said nobody bothers to use waste bins installed for garbage and this Independence Day celebration must be taken as an opportunity to educate people on "real patriotism".

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2018.