ISLAMABAD: The capital territory administration is taking action against delinquent officials to bring more transparency to its departments to facilitate the citizens.

‘Internal accountability within the department is our top priority,” said Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat while addressing an award ceremony held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts on Friday.

Recalling the performance of the administration during the last one year, he said five shelter homes (Panah Gaah) were set up across the city where three-time meals and accommodation were being provided to the needy people.

Under the clean and green Islamabad campaign, he said, around one million saplings were planted so far to add more greenery to the city. More than 15,000 kanals encroached land was also retrieved by the authorities in collaboration with the Capital Department Authority and other stake holders.

Assistant commissioners are coordinating with municipal staff and imposing fines on littering to keep the city clean, he maintained.

To promote a paperless culture under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s digital Pakistan, the capital administration has launched a price App (Durust Dam) that allows citizens to check daily prices of essential commodities besides lodging complaints against profiteers. Under the campaign of tobacco-free Islamabad, nearly 100 drug awareness campaigns were organised in educational institutes.

Civil servants belong to the public and always ready to serve them, said Kanwal Shauzab, a parliamentarian.

Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Haji Shaukat Ali urged the government employees to perform their duties with honesty and do not show slackness. The system of reward and punishment should be implemented in its true spirit, he added.

Souvenirs and awards were also distributed among the ICT staff, journalists and civil society members on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2020