RAWALPINDI: Commissioner Syed Gulzar Hussain Shah on Saturday said effective steps were being taken to protect people from Covid-19 as well as Congo virus during Eidul Azha.

He was addressing participants of a meeting called to review sanitation arrangements during the Eid holidays.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Amir Aqiq Khan, Additional Commissioner (Coordination) Arif Umar Aziz, CEO Rawalpindi Waste Management Company and other officers. Deputy commissioners of Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal participated through video link.

Mr Shah said the sanitation plan had been finalised for Eid and holidays of the staff of Rawalpindi Waste Management Company had been cancelled, adding that 3,539 workers would perform cleaning duties in different shifts starting a day before Eid till the third day of the festival.

The commissioner said 3,225 workers would be deployed in Rawalpindi and Murree and 314 in Taxila, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan and Gujar Khan.

A total of 413 vehicles will be deployed for the cleaning operation. Besides, 12 permanent and 26 mobile transfer stations will be set up in Rawalpindi city.

Loaders and dumpers will remain present in Murree, Gujar Khan, Taxila, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta. There will be one permanent and 10 mobile transmission stations.

Mr Shah said the waste management company would distribute 400,000 biodegradable bags among the people for dumping hides and offal.

He said citizens could register their complaints about sanitation by calling 1139.

He further said special arrangements would be made for cleanliness while dumping of remains of sacrificial animals would not be allowed anywhere in the city, adding that workers would use wheelbarrows in the narrow streets.

Under the pre-Eid plan, washing of mosques, cleaning of Eidgah, graveyards and main bazaars as well as distribution of garbage bags would be ensured. He directed the waste management company to ensure implementation of the standard operating procedures to protect the citizens from Congo virus.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2021