Civil society organisations here Saturday launched "Clean & Green Peshawar Campaign", for the revival of identity of the city of flowers Peshawar, and creation of individual, collective and institutional level awareness regarding cleanliness amongst people.
The formal launching of the campaign from Monday January 24, said Tahir Khattak, spokesman of Peshawar Council and representative of Institute of Architect Pakistan (IAP), Peshawar chapter. He said that the weeklong campaign would continue till January 29, adding that it will be carried out in different phases by initiating from Hayatabad to Hayat Avenue.
He pointed out that for the first time in the province, the concerted effort has been initiated by youths, community leaders, traders, civil society and religious organisations. They have joined hands and chosen University Road (Hayatabad Phase III to Gora Qabristan (Christian cemetery as the place to implement the pilot project, he said.
Khattak said that more than 600 students from different educational institutions and civil society organisations will participate in the campaign. It will not be simply a 'cleanliness week', but a sustained intervention that aims to scientifically gather data, and document and sensitise the community and then work in collaboration with all stakeholders and departments to set a model example on this stretch of the road, he elaborated.
He informed that the drive has been sponsored by different public and private sector organisations, including Peshawar Youth Organisation, Institute of Architects Pakistan, and Peshawar chapter, traders' alliance, Jamia Usmania Welfare Trust, AVT-Khyber and Sarhad Tourism Co-operation (STC). After successful completion of the pilot project, the campaign would be extended to other areas if successfully adopted and implemented.
Explaining aims and objectives of the initiative, chairman Peshawar Council said it will focus to remove waste and garbage, clean plazas, avoid wall chalking, consultation session with locals of the area, importantly engage Ulema for highlighting the significance of drive during Jumma sermons. Though Peshawar Youth Organisation had already started a campaign in this regard, but the major portion of the drive will be formally initiated from Monday, 24 January.
Concluding, Khattak said that the main stress of the activists during 'clean and green Peshawar campaign' is to clean garbage and conserve rich heritage of Peshawar. He lamented that successive provincial government had given least attention to this noble cause and dilapidated infrastructure of the Peshawar is ample proof of it. President Peshawar youth organisation, Nadeh Ali Mir also spoke on the occasion and deliberated on the arrangements being made for the weeklong event.