ABBOTTABAD: The Abbottabad deputy commissioner has established a task force to launch a cleanliness campaign in the city and cantonment areas ahead of the monsoon season to clear the drains and nullahs of silt and garbage.

The decision was made at a meeting held on Wednesday attended by Station Commander Abbottabad Brig Faisal, officials of cantonment board, Wasa, TMA and district administration.

The officials of NHA, Pesco, SNGPL and other line departments were also asked to remove their installations, creating hindrance in the smooth flow of rainwater.

It was decided that heavy machinery would be used to clean the mullahs as the deputy commissioner had arranged special funds for the removal of silt and garbage from mullahs and the drains. The cleanliness driver would be followed by an anti-encroachment drive.

PLASTIC BAGS FACTORY SEALED: The district administration has sealed a plastic bag production factory in Qalandar Abad area and also seized over 400 kilogrammes polythene bags from the warehouses on college and supply roads.

Assistant commissioner, Abbottabad, Usman Ashraf raided the factory which was running without obtaining permission.

He said the district administration had also imposed section 144 on sale and manufacturing of plastic shopping bags as these were injurious for health and environment.

He later distributed environment-friendly bags in the main bazaar.

PHD THESIS DEFENDED: Dr Sharoon Griffin, a graduate from the COMSATS University Abbottabad, has successfully defended his PhD thesis at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Germany, according to reports reaching here.

The Topic of his research was ‘applications of nano-sized plant particles in medians and agriculture’.

Prof Claus Jacob and Prof Marc Schneider of Saarland University were his examiners.

EID MILAN PARTY: PML-N central leader Ahsan Iqbal has said the commission announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan to look into foreign loans obtained over the past 10 years is just a joke.

He said the PM could check the loans record from the State Bank of Pakistan as every penny coming in the country was routed through the SBP.

This he said here while addressing the party workers at an Eid Milan party arranged by the PML-N local chapter.

Mr Iqbal alleged that PTI and NAB had joined hands to target PML-N leadership, but despite all attempts, both failed to prove corruption against Nawaz Sharif.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2019