PESHAWAR: Traffic mess and delay in the completion of Bus Rapid Transit project in the provincial capital have annoyed Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, said an official statement issued here on Wednesday.

Presiding over a meeting, the chief minister said the government would never compromise on the BRT completion on time.

The government had announced the soft opening of the bus service on March 25.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had also resented slow work on BRT.

“No further delay or any sort of excuse will be acceptable in this respect,” the statement quoted the chief minister as saying.

Says further delay in bus service launch not acceptable

He directed the relevant officials to take quick steps for the early resolution of traffic congestion in the city.

The meeting was also briefed about other small projects connected to the BRT project.

Mr Mahmood said both sides of the BRT should be cleared to traffic, while all types of hurdles should be removed as it was the appropriate approach to overcome the city’s traffic issues. He said the flow of traffic in the city should not be adversely affected by the BRT work.

The chief minister said most work on BRT should be carried out at night to provide relief to the residents in the daytime.

“Pace of work on the management of Peshawar city traffic will be accelerated,” he said.

BAN ON POLYTHENE BAGS: The chief minister on Wednesday ordered the imposition of a ban on the use of polythene bags in the province to protect environment from plastic pollution.

Presiding over a meeting regarding ban on polythene bags and its alternatives, Mr Mahmood also ordered the formation of a committee to be headed by information minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai to suggest alternatives to polythene bags.

Other members of the committee are Peshawar commissioner and CCPO, and representatives of WSSP, business community and environment department.

The chief minister said the committee’s terms of reference should be finalised without delay, while a report about it should be submitted to him within 10 days.

He called for a comprehensive media campaign to create public awareness in this respect.

The meeting was briefed about plastic pollution and its impact on environment.

The chief minister said pollution created by polythene bags was a global issue.

“In Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this (plastic bag) issue is severe. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the use of polythene bags pollutes and adversely affects our agriculture sector, irrigation, sewerage system and drinking water system to a large extent,” he said.

The chief minister said the government would ensure the use of biodegradable bags not only to clean environment but also to save people from diseases.

He said awareness campaigns would be carried out to inform business community and people about the harms of polythene bags.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2019