ISLAMABAD: A sanitising walk-through gate, installed at the entrance of Sabzi Mandi, was inaugurated by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan on Wednesday.

The gate will disinfect the hair, clothes and hands of people who walk through it.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Awan said 20 of these gates will be installed in various areas of the city.As many as 80 people can walk through this gate together as it sprays chlorinated water on them, he said, adding that efforts are also being made to provide daily-use items to people at their door steps. The installation of these gates is an initiative of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration.

Two gates have been installed by ICT’s Market Committee. The Market Committee chairman, Rosh Dil Khan, told Dawn that the cost of each gate is Rs200,000.

He said: “We bought the iron and other items for Rs470,000 for both gates and after completion of work, we still have unutilised material.”

The gate will spray chlorinated water to disinfect hands, clothes and hair of people walking through

Meanwhile, the ICT administration with CDA’s assistance has started an operation to remove encroachments and hand carts from Sabzi Mandi to avert congestion so social distancing could be observed.

According to CDA’s spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali, the removed hand carts are being shifted outside Sabzi Mandi. They are being placed outside and we are making sure the distance between each cart is six meters, he said, adding that encroachments on footpaths are also being removed.

CDA’s Enforcement Directorate, ICT Market Committee, ICT administration officials, Islamabad police and other concerned departments are a part of this operation.

Mr Ali said social distancing would be difficult in Sabzi Mandi if the hand carts had not been removed because hundreds of people visit every day. Relocation of these carts to an open space will help in curbing spread of Covid-19, he added.

He said loudspeakers are being used to create awareness among people about Covid-19. They are being told to maintain social distancing.

According to MCI’s statement, the ongoing drive of spraying chlorinated water has been extended beyond sectoral areas on Wednesday. It added that disinfectant was sprayed in Chak Shahzad, Chatta Bakhtawar, Khana Pul and Rawal Town.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020