‘Elimination of smog from Rawalpindi is top priority’

Rawalpindi : Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaqat Ali Chatha has said that elimination of smog from Rawalpindi is our first priority, to prevent the harmful effects of climate change, the operation of washing the city streets has been started on a priority basis so that the accumulated dust of the whole day is thoroughly washed with water bowser by mechanical sweeping, says a press release.

Due to the excellent strategy of Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and the tireless work of the operation staff, the production of smog in Rawalpindi is low, It is our commitment to make Rawalpindi completely smog free and we are working hard for it, he expressed these views on the occasion of inspecting the washing of Murree Road last night along with Chairman Rawalpindi Waste Management Company Saqib Rafiq and CEO Rana Sajid Safdar on the special orders of the Punjab government to combat smog.

Appreciating the road washing for the elimination of smog, he said that the process of washing the roads should be continued continuously and at the same time the city should be cleaned and made zero waste, road washing and quick waste lifting will help in the elimination of smog.

On this occasion, Senior Manager Operations RWMC Dr. Hamid Iqbal, Manager Operations Aamir Younis Naik and other operations staff were also present. Chairman RWMC Saqib Rafiq said that Rawalpindi Waste Management Company is actively working in the city and tehsils to eliminate smog, the city’s roads are being washed on a daily basis to remove dust and allow citizens to breathe in a clean and smog-free environment. Major roads of Rawalpindi including Murree Road, Fifth, Sixth Road, Fourth, Fourth B Road, Iran Road, Saidpur Road, Double Road, Old Airport Road, Civil Lines Road, Iqbal Road, Liaquat Road, Rashid Minhas Road and Metrobus Red Line and Orange Line track are being washed by water bowser after daily mechanical sweeping. 16 workers and 8 vehicles have been allocated for washing.

After the reduction in traffic flow at night, this process of washing the roads continues till dawn after which the sanitary workers take over their work and make the city zero waste by manual sweeping and waste lifting. It is our determination that there should be no garbage anywhere, neither there will be garbage nor anyone will burn it. Waste containers are emptied and washed daily, and road washing is done daily to remove dust. Rana Sajid Safdar said that we are determined to eliminate smog through cleaning, but your cooperation will be helpful for us, take the garbage to the dustbin, never set it on fire, sprinkle water while cleaning to avoid dust, smog is harmful for human health. We are working for your health through cleanliness, citizens should also be our assistants to eliminate smog for their own health and that of others. Burning garbage is not morally or legally correct. Do not burn household garbage, old tires, crop residues, the smoke produced after burning all these together with fog forms smog. For your health and the clean environment of the city, make cleanliness your motto, dispose of garbage properly.