TAXILA: Rawalpindi Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC) on Thursday, launched a computerised 1139 hotline for residents to register complaints regarding waste disposal in the city.

The launching ceremony, jointly organised by Tehsil Municipal Administration Taxila (TMA) and Rawalpindi Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC), took place at the community centre on Wednesday.

SWMC Managing Director Irfan Ahmed Qureshi, said at the occasion that this was the first time that such a hotline had been launched in the city.

He said the company is actively working towards improving collection, removal and transportation of solid waste to designated disposal sites.

“Since the company took over solid waste management collection, hundreds of tonnes of waste was removed from various parts of the city,” he said.

He identified improper waste disposal as the biggest hurdle in cleaning the city and the company hopes to take a participatory approach to waste management which will reduce operational costs and ensure timely collection and transportation.

Tehsil Municipal Officer Qammar Zeeshan also spoke at the occasion, and referred to municipal workers as ‘assets’.

He vowed to facilitate these workers and said that the concept of punishment and reward, which has been introduced by the SWMC, is highly appreciable.

Former MPA and local PML-N leader Haji Umer Farooq urged residents to cooperate with sanitary workers of the SWMC for achieving the targets of the cleanliness campaign. He said sanitation and potable water are top priorities for the government.

“Making the historical city of Taxila garbage free is a big task and all relevant stakeholders have been mobilised to achieve this,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2015

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