Help keep beautiful Islamabad clean: UK High Commissioner

Envoy picks up two plastic bags stuffed with water bottles, waste material

ISLAMABAD:

UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner on Friday has urged the residents of the federal capital to keep Islamabad clean by avoiding littering at open and green places. "Meals are for sharing not littering. Two bags of rubbish were collected on Margallas during Friday's morning walk - please help keep beautiful Islamabad clean," he tweeted along with the picture of two plastic bags stuffed with empty water bottles, tin cans and other waste material.

He also drew the attention of Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat towards the issue of littering on green belts.

The Twitter handle of the Capital Development Authority swiftly responded to the British High Commissioner's tweet and reminded citizens of their responsibility of keeping the city beautiful by avoiding littering in open and green spaces.

"It's a collective effort in which citizens should take an active part to keep this beautiful city clean by avoiding littering. Because #TogetherWeCan," the CDA tweeted.

Garbage disposal and littering are some of the major civic issues in the city. Neither most citizens are cognizant of their civic responsibilities, nor are the city managers who still rely on archaic method for garbage collection from the households and sensitising masses for littering prevention.

Hence, the city gives an uncivilised look in certain areas with stuffed and open dumpsters are placed in the residential areas and that too are surrounded by piles of garbage due to the irresponsible attitude of some citizens who have a habit of throwing the waste out of the bins.

"It is such a very painful act by our people that we throw food bags and bottles everywhere on picnic spots. It is really disappointing. We should try to avoid this kind of behaviour," Umair Aslam posted on Twitter following the tweet from the British High Commissioner on littering. APP