Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali has as a special initiative has launched a ‘Blue Jacket Movement’ with the slogan and mission of ‘Say No To Open Littering’ under which an awareness drive would be launched among the people of District South in the first phase and then in other district in the next phase and simultaneously cleanliness work would be demonstrate practically.
He launched the Blue Jacket movement last night at Teen-Talwar in an impressive ceremony which was attended by provincial minister for Information Murtaza Wahab, CM Advisor on environment Muraza Wahab, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shahlwani, Secretary Culture Parvez Sihar, DIG South Sharjeel Kharal, the host- DC South Saeed Salahuddin, a large number of leading film and TV actors and members of civil society.
The chief Minister said that the government was an executing agency but the citizens have the responsibility to demonstrate civic sense and keep their homes, compounds, mohallas, vicinity and the city at large neat and clean by disposing off the trash wrapped in paper bags into the dustbin and also monitor the sweeping of streets, lifting of trash and garbage work being done by the DMCs and Solid waste management. In case of failure of the concerned DMCs and solid waste management complaints may be lodged in their offices. “I am also establishing a separate desk in CM House Complaint Cell where complaints regarding non-sweeping and lifting of trash would be registered.
Mr Shah said that his advisor on Environment Murtaza Wahab had discussed the concept of Blue Jacket movement with him and “I approved it then and there and directed him to start it from South and then we would spread it in other districts of Karachi, then Hyderabad and all over Sindh,” he said and added “the cleanliness is one of the pillars of Islam and being Muslim society it becomes our utmost responsibility to keep ourselves clean and keep the areas where we live neat and clean and Pak.”
He said that under the Blue Jacket Movement people of District South would be made aware about the importance of cleanliness and “we would select areas to make models in terms of cleanliness and beautification,” he said and added the volunteers of the movement would work in their designated areas.
He deplored that his opponents were propagating that the government was not giving ownership to the city but “we have proved that we have already given ownership to this city father of nation by launching development projects, widening its roads, re-designing its drainage system, dewatering the inundated areas and now have involved district administration in the garbage lifting work,” he said and urged each and every individual to own this city and fulfil their responsibility by keeping it neat and clean.
Minister for Labour and Information Saeed Ghani speaking on the occasion said that some 600 volunteers have got them registered in the Blue Jacket Movement. “This shows that people want to work for the betterment of the city but we have to just guide them, encourage them and have to work with them,” he said.
He said the foundation of the Blue Jacket Movement has been laid in District South and within few months its sphere would be spared in other districts of the city. He added “this city not only belongs to any individual, political party or group but it belongs to each and every one of us and we have to own it and have to play the role of its owner,” he said.
Commissioner Karachi Iftikahr Shahlwani also lauded the cause of the Blue Jacket Movement and vowed to succeed it by giving his maximum support to its volunteers.
DC South Saeed Salahuddin briefed the chief minister about the aims and objectives of the Blue Jacket Movement. He said on the instructions of the chief minister he has launched the movement in his district and would make it historic one by delivering to the best of his abilities.
Lifting of offal: Minister Local Government Syed Nasir Shah through a comprehensive report has told the chief minister that during the last three days right from Eid-u-Azha, August 12 to 14 over 1,459,167 offal have been lifted and transported to designated landfill sites.
The report issued by Secretary Local Government Khalid Hyderabad said that during the said three days 6642 offals were lifted from District Badin, 3526 from Dadu, 4610 from Ghotki, 69,871 from Hyderabad, 8,050 from Jacoabad, 2194 Jamshoro, 6,070 Kashmore @ Kandhkot, 33755 from Khairpur, 13950 from Larkana, 2431 rom Matiari, 15849 from Mirpurkhas, 933 Tharparkar, 725 Naushehroferoze, 553 from Shaheed Benazirabad, 11000 from Kambar
Shahdadkot, 18709 from Sukkur, 4220 from Shikarpur, 10119 from Sanghar 1055 from Sujawal, 1921 from Thatta, 2478 from Tando Allahyar, 2804 from Tando M. Khan, 1303 from Umerkot, 642,200 from Central Karachi, 288,200 from DMC Korangi, 165,800 from DMC Malir and 140,400 from District Council.
The report says that Sindh Solid Waste Management works in three DMCs, East, West and South from where they collected 42,937 tons of offal.
The chief minister has issued directives to start fumigation all over Sindh so that spread of malaria and other disease could be stopped.—INP
