ISLAMABAD: As pre-monsoon may start this month, the Commissioner Islamabad Chaudhary Mohammad Ali Randhawa has ordered cleanup all the drains to avoid repeat of 2021 tragic incident in E-11 when urban flooding claimed two lives and damaged three cars and several motorcycles.

On Saturday, despite the weekly holiday, relevant staff remained busy in cleaning drains along Faisal Avenue including Sector F-7, F-6 and fulfilled the task on the first day of cleanup operation.

While the cleaning, repair and maintenance work of the rest of the drains will be completed soon.

A woman and her child were killed in the unapproved Medical Cooperative Housing Society in E-11/2 when gushing water from an overflowing drain, broke the wall of a house and entered the basement.

Mr Randhawa, having vast experience of dealing with the urban flooding in Punjab, has directed that the dredging work of all the drains should be completed before the monsoon and all the obstructions in the nullahs should be removed for smooth flow of water.

Moreover, on the instructions of the newly appointed chief commissioner, the cleaning of the mega parks of Islamabad has also begun. The joint sanitation operation of the directorates of environment and sanitation is going on across the city.

In this regard, duties have also been assigned to the relevant staff to ensure their presence in the field.

Chaudhary Mohammad Ali Randhawa, a BS-20 officer of Pakistan Administration Service (PAS), was appointedas Islamabad’s chief commissioner on May 2. He had been awaiting posting in Establishment Division, was transferred and posted as Chief Commissioner Islamabad with immediate effect and until further orders.

He had replaced retired Captain Anwarul Haque, who had been directed to report to the Establishment Division.

Mr Randhawa had been previously working as the commissioner, Lahore, and last week his services were requisitioned by the interior ministry for his posting as the chief commissioner or the CDA chairman.

Subsequently, he reported to the Establishment Division on April 30 and was waiting for issuance of notification for his new assignment. After posting he also become a member of the CDA Board. Therefore, there are chances that he would be given the additional charge of the CDA chairman like his predecessor.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024