The administration of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) under the initiative of keeping the city “clean and green” made a law, to charge a fine of Rs 50 to Rs 500 to those who are found to be throwing litter outside their house, from their vehicles, in public attractions, roads and streets.
But what about other cities? A local survey states that Karachi tops the list of being the dirtiest. The list is further followed by other big cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Peshawar.
Since Pakistan is promoting its tourism, therefore the concern of cleanliness should not only restrict to cleaning the capital state and touristic places because the beauty of the country would completely prevail when all of its cities would follow the same criteria.
In all these cities, irrespective of the locality, more or less, one is welcomed by the pungent smell of disposed off litter and unpleasant sight of garbage, because, majority of Pakistanis posses bad habit of littering – despite being literate or illiterate, rich or poor, young or old.
The placing of trash cans every few km is not the only solution because despite having litter bins at several localities, garbage is found scattered and left to rot. Not to forget in all these cities, any empty plot serves as a garbage can too.
Instead, introducing methods like offering a mandatory community service, stricter law enforcement, awareness campaigns and specially a heavy fine to all those who are found littering could help in coping with the problem, which is not only polluting the environment but affecting country’s beauty too.
Worldwide, litter fines are applied to those who are found guilty, Singapore charges, 300$ – 1000$ for first time offenders, the charges could raise to 5000$, if the offence is still made the third time, with the possibility of being jailed too.
UAE charges between 500 AED – 10000 AED with the highest fine of 50,000 AED for disposing of hazardous waste at an undesignated site.
All the countries that have adapted these measures have made a change to the environment, here is a hope that every city of Pakistan would follow the same footsteps as ICT towards becoming clean and green.
