DERA GHAZI KHAN: The district administration has imposed a Rs1.5 million fine on the Dera Ghazi Khan Waste Management Company (WMC) for violating SOPs and warned the Daewoo Waste Management Company of strict legal action if sanitation standards were not improved.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid received a detailed briefing on sanitation operations in the district during a surprise visit to the WMC divisional headquarters. Waste Management CEO Shahid Nadeem Rana, AC Sadar Taimoor Usman, district and tehsil managers along with other company officials and staff were present on the occasion.

The DC directed that drains along roads should also be thoroughly cleaned and exemplary cleanliness should be maintained in the district. He said that payments would only be made to the service providers in the field, while staff attendance, vehicle fuel usage, and other matters would be strictly monitored. He stressed the need to make the monitoring system more effective.

He also ordered immediate action against ghost employees. During the briefing, he was informed that all stages of the sanitation process, including employee attendance, vehicle tracking, fuel consumption, garbage collection and disposal, were being closely monitored.

Mr Khalid warned of strict legal action if sanitation standards were not improved and said that negligence or violation of SOPs would not be tolerated.

Talking to Dawn, he confirmed that the Dera Ghazi Khan WMC was fined Rs1.5 million for violating SOPs. He said the company was bound to lift 1,100 tons of waste daily and was not allowed to collect debris-mixed garbage merely to meet the weight requirements.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2025