BY: Dr. Mirza MB Qamar / ANI
GUJRANWALA — The Anti-Littering Squad has been formally launched in Gujranwala city and district under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Suthra Punjab” vision to ensure effective implementation of cleanliness laws and promote awareness among citizens.
Commissioner Gujranwala Muhammad Ali and Deputy Commissioner Naveed Ahmed handed over motorcycle keys to Anti-Littering Squad personnel at a ceremony held at the Commissioner’s Office. MD Suthra Punjab Agency Gujranwala Abdul Razzaq Dogar, ADC Municipal Services Zeeshan Nadeem and senior officials were also present.
The squad’s field monitoring officers will perform duties on main roads, markets, commercial centres and other public places to identify violations of sanitation rules and ensure legal action.
Commissioner Muhammad Ali said the primary objective of the squad was to make citizens comply with cleanliness regulations and keep the city clean. Citizens would be warned for a first violation, while fines and legal action would be taken in case of repeated violations.
He said a fine ranging from Rs1,000 to Rs10,000 would be imposed for throwing garbage in public places, while failure to maintain cleanliness outside a house, shop or factory could attract a fine of Rs1,000 to Rs50,000.
Deputy Commissioner Naveed Ahmed urged citizens to follow sanitation regulations and dispose of waste at designated places. He said burning garbage could result in a fine of up to Rs500,000 and imprisonment of up to two years.
MD Suthra Punjab Agency Gujranwala Abdul Razzaq Dogar said anti-littering fines would be collected only through banking or digital mechanisms to ensure transparency. He said the purpose of the squad was not to generate revenue through fines but to make Gujranwala clean, neat and beautiful.
The administration appealed to citizens to follow cleanliness rules, dispose of garbage at designated points and fully cooperate with Suthra Punjab teams to ensure a clean and healthy environment.
Divisional and district administration officials and Suthra Punjab authorities expressed their determination to continue efforts to make Gujranwala cleaner and more beautiful through enforcement of sanitation laws, public awareness and effective field monitoring.
