‘Make Khanpur Polythene-Free’ event held

Haripur Deputy Commissioner Mugheez Sanaullah has said as responsible citizens we must stop the use of polythene bags to keep our environment healthy.

He was talking to the citizens during an awareness programme organised with an aim to make Khanpur polythene-free at Tarnawa Bazaar on Saturday. The deputy commissioner was accompanied by other district officials, including Khanpur Assistant Commissioner Sara Tawab.

“Cleanliness is the beauty of the environment and represents the generosity of the local population,” he said, adding that they launch cleanliness campaigns at regular intervals to create awareness about its importance.

Sanaullah said Khanpur dam is a tourist spot which is also visited by foreign tourists besides locals. Therefore, there was a need for expediting awareness drive to sensitise the citizens about the significance of cleanliness.

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The deputy commissioner said the administration was trying to stop littering around the water reservoir while warning that the practice would mar the beauty of the lake and it could turn stinky.

He urged the citizens and the owners of restaurants and hotels in the surrounding area to give evidence of being an environment-friendly citizen by keeping the environment tidy.

Last month, a cleanliness campaign in and around the dam was launched in an around dam to provide to provide clean environment to the tourists.

Instructions were issued to the Town Municipal Administration officers to ensure the daily cleaning of public places and parks. Awareness-raising events have also been planned to enlist citizen’s support for the campaign.

The dam is the nearest tourist destination, near Islamabad and Rawalpindi, which is visited by many tourists, particularly in summer. Because of the large number of tourists, the stench from uncollected garbage around the destination was increasing constantly in the last couple of months.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2021.