RAWALPINDI: A joint committee of the Rawalpindi and Islamabad administrations will likely adopt the Sahiwal-style model to manage sanitation issues in the twin cities starting on Monday. The Sahiwal Division is generating 35 per cent of its budget through garbage recycling.

Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) had been given the task of presenting the proposal after which the model would be immediately launched in the twin cities.

The decision was taken at a meeting held in the commissioner’s office and presided over by Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha and MNA-elect Hanif Abbasi.

The divisional administration invited Mr Abbasi to the meeting to deal with water and sanitation issues in Rawalpindi.

Mr Chattha said a special committee had been formed to improve the sanitation conditions in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The committee comprises the Islamabad and Rawalpindi administrations, CDA and cantonment boards, and it will work on the integrated water supply and sanitation systems of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The commissioner stated that it had been observed that even after great efforts, the cleanliness situation in the twin cities was not up to the mark as it should be for which the committee had been formed.

Mr Chatha directed RWMC to make a scheme for its essential machinery which was dysfunctional at present and get it incorporated into the upcoming annual development programme so that the shortage of resources could not hinder the cleanliness of the city.

The commissioner said the second important task of the committee was to solve the shortage of clean drinking water.

He said according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s standards, the shortage of clean drinking water in the twin cities was 47 per cent, which will increase with the passage of time. Therefore, taking steps in this regard is the need of the hour.

He said 2,300 tonnes of garbage was dumped on a daily basis, so the committee will present a model in which a major portion of the garbage will be recycled and only 30 per cent will be left for disposal which will significantly reduce the cost of disposal and, at the same time, generate income from recycling.

He added that the cleaning campaign would not be successful without the cooperation of the citizens, so it is important that the citizens also help the sanitary workers in ensuring the cleanliness of their environment. He urged the citizens and the administration not to set garbage on fire and dump it in a dustbin.

Former station commander of Rawalpindi and representative of garrison authority retired Brig Ijaz Qamar Kayani, RWMC Managing Director Rana Sajid Safdar, cantonment boards and CDA officials attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2024