PESHAWAR/BATTAGRAM: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that ruthless cutting of forests has devastated natural environment and caused fioods.

He said that provincial government devised a comprehensive system for restoration of natural environment as it believed in practical steps, according to a statement.

He was addressing as chief guest the inaugural ceremony of sanitation campaign in Peshawar on Monday. The campaign titled Goloona Pekhawar (Flowers Peshawar) will continue for 10 days. During the campaign, ef forts will be made to clean the roadsand streets ofthe city.

The drive is a joint venture of several organisations and institutions including Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar, University of Peshawar, Al-Khidmat Foundation, Peshawar Development Authority and four towns of the provincial metropolis.

The chief minister said that there were 135 gardeners for 13 gardens in Peshawar when PTI formed government in the province. He said that the gardeners had never bothered to plant a single sapling owing to absence of check and balance system.

Mr Khattak said that the present government inherited a deteriorated system but it was determined to reform it. He said that government took concrete steps to bring a real change. He said that 80 per cent residents of Peshawar were consuming polluted water that was a major cause of diseases.

The chief minister that provincial government allotted funds forprovision of clean drinking water to people improve public health and reduce burden of patients on hospitals. He said that 30 per cent funds were diverted to local government and local bodies were made responsible for keeping the environment clean.

Mr Khattak asked people to keep an eye on the performance of their elected representatives. He said that government ended political interference in education, health and police departments.

The chief minister said that services of WSSP would be extended to six more districts of the province. He said that Rapid Bus Transport project would be initiated in Peshawar to provide better transportation services to people.

He said that bus stand would be shifted out of the city.

In Battagram, a weeklong cleanliness drive was launched on Monday to keep public places clean.

The drive was launched by district administration at BattagramBazaar. MPA Nawabzada Wall Mohammad Khan, Deputy Commissioner Sardar Asad Haroon, tehsil nazim Niaz Mohammad Khan, representatives of traders and volunteers of Zalmey Battagram and Pakistan Red Crescent Society were present on the occasion.

The deputy commissioner said that aim of the drive was to enhance civic sense among the citizens. He called upon peoples to cooperate with the municipal administration to make the drive a success.

He said that during the campaign, chocked drains, streets and bazaars would be cleaned.

Speaking on the occasion, tehsil nazim Niaz Mohammad Khan said that they were planning to set up slaughter house and selected places for dumping garbage.

However, residents of the district that a weeklong drive would not bring any change. `The government needs to make it a regular activity,` they added.