Clean green Abbottabad: ‘Actions speak louder than words’

DC says practical work needed for cleanliness instead of seminars and walks

ABBOTTABAD: Practical work needs to be done instead of holding seminars, workshops and walks for the Clean and Green Pakistan, said the newly appointed Abbottabad Deputy Commissioner Amir Afaq while presiding meeting of heads of departments of different government and semi government organisations.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Afaq said asking all stakeholders to play their role in maintaining a clean and green environment. “We are duty bound to make the surroundings in homes, offices and markets clean.”

Abbottabad is a hub of tourism and a major transit point for tourists heading to Kashmir or Kaghan and Naran. Owing to heavy flow of visitors, waste management has become a huge issue making this town, once nestled between pines and gurgling streams, a garbage dump.



The new DC also directed the officials to put forward concrete proposals for cleanliness in the Abbottabad district, “this cleanliness drive should not be a onetime activity but a regular feature.”

DC stressed upon the heads of educational institutions to utilise the best abilities of the students of schools, colleges and universities to create awareness about importance of clean and green environment.

Afaq also asked for co-ordinated efforts of TMA, Cantonment Board and WASA. He emphasised on creating awareness among citizens and suggested seeking help of Ulema to highlight benefits of clean environment in their sermons.

Earlier, DC Afaq held an introductory meeting with senior journalists of Abbottabad district and asked them to play their role in resolving social and local issues.

Afaq told the media that a detailed strategy was being chalked out for removing encroachment in the district and removal of illegal bus and wagon stands which were creating traffic hazard in the city.

Anti-encroachment drive

Abbottabad Tehsil Municipal Administration has launched anti-encroachment drive in different bazaars of the city seizing goods of shopkeepers which were placed on footpaths and roads especially in Lohar Bazaar.

Anti-encroachment staff of the TMA was backed by traffic and city police.

Later, on the request of traders’ association, the drive was deferred till Monday.

Following a meeting between representatives of traders and DC Afaq it was decided that officials will point out encroachment and explain it to shopkeepers to keep their merchandise in their shops.

Since these people have never known any such thing as municipal law or right of pedestrians on footpaths, the TMA will tell the shopkeepers that don’t put your goods beyond the marked lines.

Once the traders have been explained the law, TMA squad will remove all encroachment.

DPO DIRECTIVES

District Police Officer Abbottabad Abbas Majeed Marwat has directed the SP traffic to prepare traffic management plan to handle rush of people heading to mountains.

Snowfall marks the start of winter tourism season bringing traffic chaos in Abbottabad city.

At times, commuters were left stuck in traffic jams in freezing cold especially on the main Karakoram Highway from Salhad to Abbottabad Public School.

Tourist traffic adds to the problems in school timings, morning and evening rush hours.

CNG closure

Owing to increase in demand for piped gas for heating in winters, Abbottabad DC issued orders for the closure of CNG filling stations in the morning from 6am to 8:30am and in the evening from 6pm to 8:30pm.

The closure of sale of CNG will mitigate the problem of low pressure of gas for domestic use, the notification said.

The order for CNG closure has come into force immediately and will remain effective for indefinite period, the notification said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2018.