Clearing up: CM wants city free of polythene bags

PESHAWAR:

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said the city should be freed of polythene bags as they pose a serious threat to Peshawar’s environment. Chairing a meeting at the CM Secretariat, Khattak formed a committee led by environment secretary, to chalk out a comprehensive plan to prohibit the production, sale and use of non-degradable plastic bags.

Flanked by Senator Mohsin Aziz, MNA Sajida Zulfiqar, Minister for Local Government Inayatullah and major manufacturers of shopping bags, Khattak said garbage disposal is the responsibility of the local government. He said keeping the interests of all stakeholders in mind, a solution to the issue should be located so that environmental hazards can be averted.

Rejecting the proposal to launch a pilot project in Peshawar to eliminate plastic bags, Khattak said a decision will be taken for all of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and not just the provincial capital.

Expressing dissatisfaction over sanitation and cleanliness in the city, the CM said departments concerned should work together and not pin responsibilities on each other.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2015.