MULTAN: The Multan Waste Management Company (MWMC) has failed to clear heaps of solid waste from different parts of the city despite a direction by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

Before Eid, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had also expressed his displeasure over the performance of the company and issued MWMC Managing Director Fakhar Islam Dogar a warning during a meeting of the District Coordination Committee and gave him a 15-day deadline that he would not be tolerated in the city if the performance of the company was not improved.

Earlier on May 16, a displeasure notice was also issued by Deputy Commissioner Ali Shahzad to company’s MD over the unsatisfactory state of cleanliness in the city during the visit of Chief Minister Buzdar on Eidul Fitr.

“... you were informed of the expected VIP visit to Multan during Eid holidays and were also instructed to ensure cleanliness in your area of responsibility. However, during the visit, the VIP/competent authority observed an unsatisfactory state of cleanliness in the city which has resulted in embarrassment for the company as well as the district administration. Given the foregoing, you have communicated strong displeasure on account of this laxity and negligence. You are hereby warned to remain careful and ensure that such lapse does not occur in future,” the DC stated.

Jalil Khan Babar from Bagh Langay Khan said the people were forced to live with filth and stink.

“It is a routine matter that for many days, there is no presence of the MWMC staff to lift the waste from my union council despite the fact it should be available on a daily basis,” he said.

He said the company’s performance on Eid day was also poor despite arranging private vehicles to collect the animal waste were hired in a large number.

The MWMC, however, through an official handout claimed that routine operation in the city has been resumed after Eid.

Chief minister’s coordinator MPA Haji Javed Akhtar Ansari said parliamentarians of the city would play their role to strengthen the company and infrastructure besides increase in the workforce of the company.

Addressing the ceremony in the honour of the company’s management and workers over their ‘excellent performance during Eid days, the MPA hoped the company would maintain its performance in connection with the cleanliness of the city in future as well.

Company’s MD Dogar said keeping the standard of cleanliness in the city was a big challenge for the company and the sanitary workers of the company would perform their cleanliness duties to keep the roads, streets by ensuring their presence in their respective areas.

Dogar announced Eid bonus for the company’s staff while saying that the provincial government has increased the company’s annual grant by 33pc.

“Hopefully, the company will purchase its own vehicles before the next Eidul Azha and there will be no need to hire the vehicles on rent,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2021