Cleanliness drive kicks off in Pindi
A cleanliness drive has been kicked off in Rawalpindi under the Clean Punjab campaign to remove garbage from open spaces, vegetable markets, bus terminals, and graveyards.
Rawalpindi Commissioner Engineer Aamir Khattak said the drive had been launched as per the instructions of the newly-elected Punjab chief minister.
He visited different areas of Rawalpindi city to review the cleanliness situation amid the current rain spell.
He visited Committee Chowk Underpass, Waris Khan Circle Road and Itwar Bazaar Committee Chowk Dumping Point. While reviewing the flow of rainwater on the Goalmandi Bridge, he directed to ensure timely measures for drainage of rainwater. He directed Saddar assistant commissioner to identify space for a separate transfer site in urban union councils within the next three days.
There is only one transfer station in the city which is the biggest obstacle in maintaining cleanliness, he added and further said that separate transfer stations will reduce transport costs and increase efficiency. He directed to pay special attention to the cleanliness campaign, and the complaints received should be resolved immediately.
“Apart from this, the city should be divided into zones for cleanliness. It will become easier to cater zone-wise cleaning and this will also improve its quality.” The Rawalpindi commissioner said the Punjab chief minister has adopted zero zero-tolerance stance regarding cleanliness. He further directed that an immediate summary be moved to increase the scope of RWMC, highlighting the lack of machinery and other resources so that it may not create any hindrance in the drive.
Chairman RWMC Saqib Rafiq and other officers concerned also accompanied him during the visit to different areas of the city early in the morning.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2024.