RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) will clear graveyards of the garrison city of bushes and other waste to avoid spread of dengue and a campaign in this regard will be launched from next week which will cover 209 graveyards on 6,365 kanals.

This was stated by officials of the RMC in a meeting held with Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha in the chair.

The meeting reviewed the performance of the local government and community development.

The commissioner directed that there should be no delay in the distribution of birth and death certificates by the local government.

Mr Chattha said in light of the instructions of the provincial minister for local government, the departments concerned would start a month-long cleanliness campaign across the city, in which people from all walks of life would participate.

He directed the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company to clean three or four main nullahs of Murree and remove garbage stuck above the landsliding areas, especially shopping bags.

While reviewing ongoing anti-encroachment campaign, he said that apart from construction on state lands, open spaces or waterways and places of public use to be monitored as well. Illegal constructions should also be razed.

The meeting was informed that the anti-encroachment operation was going on across the city by Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation and initially four major roads Liaquat Road, Iqbal Road, Murree Road and Raja Bazaar are to be cleared and about 50pc of the work has been completed there.

Similarly, the work of converting sodium lights to LED is also going on across the city. So far 31,808 LEDs of 60-120 watts have been installed on main, link roads and streets.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha planted saplings on the premises of Government Viqarun Nisa College and Government Degree College Satellite Town to formally inaugurate the campaign.

On the first day of spring plantation campaign, 16,000 different types of saplings were planted in colleges across the city with the support of Parks and Horticulture Agency (PHA), Forest Department and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

Plants are compatible with local environment and preference should be given to the fruit trees.

Speaking on the occasion, the commissioner said that tree planting was an ongoing charity.

“No country is safe from the effects of global warming. The purpose of planting trees is to create an environment friendly atmosphere. However, this campaign will be successful only due to the dedication and hard work of the students,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2023