K-P launches cleanliness drive

Tarakai says govt will impose fines in business hubs in the first phase

PESHAWAR: The local government ministry has initiated a special cleanliness drive in the entire province on Friday, with a special focus on hill stations and tourist spots.

Launching the “Clean Pukhtunkhawa, my dream Pukhtunkhawa” drive in Town-III Peshawar, Local Government Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai urged the public, prayer leaders, and school teachers in the province to own the cleanliness drive so that they could achieve their target.

“We have taken on board the business community, the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), local government institutions, and districts management officials,” Tarakai said, adding that they have set up specific spots for garbage collection.

“If we find any violation [of garbage disposal and cleanliness] we will impose penalties of Rs5,000,” the minister said.

In the first phase, he said that they will impose cash penalties in the business hubs in different districts. In subsequent phases, the penalty will also be extended to towns, community and districts.

“We have introduced a rewards system in our institution to reward those who provide special services to their community in shape of cleanliness drives,” he said adding that the reward could amount to as much as Rs20 million in cash awards.

Tarakai urged to residents of the province to respect the WSSP employees who work to collect garbage, adding that this will help them achieve their goals in the drives. On Eid we have taken extra measures and allocated additional vehicles for this purpose, the minister said, adding that in Peshawar alone, an additional 213 vehicles have been allocated to collect offal and animal remains during the three days of Eidul Azha.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2019.