RAWALPINDI (PR): Secretary Human Rights Asim Iqbal has said that “Khadim-e-Aala Punjab Saaf Dehat Program” is intended to offer cleanliness facilities to rural areas. It is first of its own kind in the history of Pakistan that such initiative has been taken for rural community however it cannot be maintained through government initiatives only. In-fact there is a dire need to involve community in this program and make them realize that sanitation is obligatory not only for their faith but for contend and healthy life as well. He said that government has saved 60% population of rural areas by clearing the huge piles of waste there so now the responsibility lies at us to sustain it. Participation of community and association of Local Government organizations is mandatory to keep this campaign fruitful, he added and shared further that a close coordination with public representatives of local areas is also needed to work effectively. He said that our prime focus is not only urban but we give equal significance to rural areas and this initiatives of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif is revolutionary step which clearly depicts that he prefers the well-being of rural areas in the same way as that of urban.
He shared these thoughts while chairing a meeting held to review progress of Rawalpindi District regarding “Khadim-e-Aala Punjab Saaf Dehat Program”. Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Talat Mehmood Gondal, Additional Commissioner Coordination Tariq Salam Marwat, Deputy Director Development Saima Ghafoor, Director Local Government Ikhlaq Waraich, Local government officers of Jehlum and Attock and other concerned officials were also present at the meeting.
Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Talat Mehmood Gondal while briefing the chair about the detailed performance of Rawalpindi District shared that under this program 564 wards from 98 UCs of 07 Tehsils of Rawalpindi have been covered. He said that Phase-I was completed by 20 december2017 while Phase-II has been completed recently by 31 January 2018. A total of 5027 sites were cleared. DC said that according to Urban Unit Dashboard Ranking, Rawalpindi stood 4th in Phase-I and 5th in Phase-II. He said that local counselors were taken on board and project was moved toward completion with their consultation and indication of sites.