ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: City managers put into force on Tuesday the anti-littering rules they had framed in 2008 for the federal capital, with a warning that anyone caught throwing waste in the open will be fined a minimum of Rs50 “on the spot”.

Islamabad is the first city in the country to enforce the anti-littering provisions, according to officials of the Capital Development Authority.

“Under section 5(29) of the CDA Environmental Protection Regulations 2008, a person or persons violating the anti-littering law can be fined up to Rs300 on the spot,” said CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, asking the residents not to litter.

Rather than throwing empty packets of juice, cigarettes, and beverage bottles in the open, he requested them “to properly dispose of waste” in dustbins.

The civic body also formed an anti-littering force, comprising 25 personnel, which will have a mobile squad as well, to ensure the enforcement of the law.

“Though the force is quite small to begin with the new system, it will be expanded gradually,” said CDA Director Sanitation, Mohammad Faiz.

The force, he said, would remain vigilant in main commercial centres and on roads and impose fine on those polluting the environment. Before enforcement of the anti-littering law, a three-month-long awareness campaign was launched in the city.

“A neat and clean environment is the sign of a healthy and civilised society and we can achieve this goal by keeping our houses, streets, sectors and surroundings clean and neat,” said the CDA chairman.

The city managers requested the residents to dispose of waste material in the garbage trolleys of the CDA with the help of the sanitary workers.

They also urged the citizens not to wash their vehicles in the streets with water pipes and use buckets to avoid wastage of water.

“Throwing juice packets and plastic bottles in the open in parks and other recreational places causes nuisance and earn a bad name for the residents. In this regard, CDA has already installed dustbins in these areas,” the CDA chief said.

The official asked people to submit their suggestions and recommendations to the helpline 1334 to help the civic body achieve better results.

It may be noted that though the CDA has enforced the anti-littering law, it still lacks a proper system to dispose of the city’s total garbage which is around 800 tons per day.