Breath of fresh air: District government, WSSP seek to revive city of flowers

Cleanliness drive organised to rid city of waste, raise awareness

PESHAWAR: The district government launched a cleanliness drive across the city in collaboration with Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP).

WSSP Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Naeem Khan, WSSP General Manager Operations Nasir Ghafoor Khan, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Riaz Mehsud, Additional Deputy Commissioner Irshad Sodhar and other officials from the district government and WSSP took part in the event. Over 500 volunteers participated in the initiative.

Volunteers were divided into groups and asked to undertake cleanliness drives in Hayatabad, University Town and other major areas of the city. Waste collection bags were distributed among residents. Locals were urged to dispose waste at designated locations for WSSP collection trucks.

At least 300 trucks were used to dispose waste collected by volunteers during the drive.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sodhar said each group was divided into three teams and each team was tasked with different activities.

“One team was asked to collect trash from streets and parks, the second group was tasked with garbage collection while the third team was instructed to distribute garbage bags and raise awareness about cleanliness among locals,” he added.

Each team also comprised representatives from district government and WSSP officials.

The WSSP CEO and the DC also headed volunteer teams. The aim of the project was to ensure maximum participation from the community.

“A large number of locals joined us after watching us cleaning streets and parks,” Sodhar said. “This was encouraging and we all appreciated it thoroughly.”

He added, “None of us would need to visit a doctor if we keep our environment clean and green.”

WSSP CEO Naeem Khan urged residents to use waste containers and garbage bins placed in their neighbourhoods. He urged citizens to join hands with the district government and WSSP to make Peshawar a ‘city of flowers’ again by keeping it clean. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2015.