ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: After meeting traders and the business community, the Islamabad administration is scheduled to approach managers of public transport next week to woo them into adopting conservation measures in all fields under the ‘Go green’ initiative.

The meetings are being held with utility service providers and authorities concerned to implement the initiative launched by the Cabinet Division to conserve electricity, water and gas.

“It is a long-term idea to develop the habit of adopting conservation rather than utilising resources recklessly,” said Amer Ali, the deputy commissioner of Islamabad. “At present, the consumption pattern of the masses is based on their affordability.”

In the recent meeting of the traders and representatives of Iesco and the local administration, it was agreed that the former would reduce electricity consumption by 10-20 per cent.

The deputy commissioner said such ideas cannot be forced upon the consumers and anything done voluntarily would have a long-lasting impact.

Meanwhile, talking to Dawn, Ajmal Baloch, the chairman of traders action committee, welcomed the ‘Go green’ initiative, saying instead of forcing shopkeepers on a shutdown to save electricity, there should be an across-the-board saving by all consumers.

“We are happy to see that the officials are talking now and this habit of conservation is beneficial for everybody. However, I hope that the government offices also adopt electricity conservation drive,” he added.

The meeting attended by the office-bearers of Islamabad chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that all traders would consider switching off 1-2 bulbs to help save electricity.

The meeting with the transporters would be followed by engagements with the population of rural areas who would be asked to reduce fuel consumption as much as possible and save power through reduced lighting on marriages and other occasions.

The task to promote awareness about conservation of water among the residents lies with the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The officials of the civic agency have acknowledged that they can only monitor and control leakages.

“The only way to manage water usage is through awareness regarding the benefits of conservation among the masses as it is also done in many advanced countries,” said an official of the CDA.

In this regard, he added, the CDA has chalked out a plan to educate schoolchildren, members of civil society, media and public servants. However, the awareness campaign by the gas utility company - SNGPL - is expected to be through the media only.

The ‘Go green’ initiative, if implemented successfully in the federal capital, is likely to be launched in other cities across the country.