PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has directed all departments to use huge billboards to highlight the initiatives and projects of the government.

Interestingly, earlier chief minister himself had banned large size hoardings on both sides of GT Road.

Previously, both sides of the road were dotted by large number of huge hoardings.

A directive issued by the Chief Minister Secretariat, a copy ofwhich is available with Dawn, tells the officials that chief minister wants all the departments to use, in addition to other modes, huge hoardings in vintage points and on roadsides to enhance visibility of the government projects and initiatives.

The directive notes that the practice would have greater impact for a prolonged period with comparatively less cost than using other medium. It says that large billboards shall be used for promotional messages and public awareness regarding government`s initiatives and projects and to highlighttheir impact.

Thelettersays thatstrategiclocations, particularly main entry points to the province, districts and other important squares, should be selected to be used permanently for this purpose.

It says that messages should be displayed on these hoardings for one month period to get the desired impact. Public communication strategy for every government initiative and project should be part of the planning process.

The chief minister has directed the government departments that social media should also be used asan additional option for advertisements to have access to a large number of audiences.

A senior government official criticised the move and termed it dangerous. `Given the number of the windstorms lashing the city these days, installation of huge billboards is fraught with dangers for public safety and should be avoided,` he said.

An official of Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), requesting anonymity, told Dawn that earlier the chief minister had directed to remove all billboards along the GT Road.

He said that the chief minister`s contention then was that not only those billboards distracted motorists` attention but also there was a danger of their collapse in case of windstorms.

However, the official admitted that there were no bylaws to regulate the hoardings business in the city.

He said that PDA entered into agreements with contractors about renting hoardings; however, even those agreements didn`t mention in which area the boards would installed.

The official said that there were certain places in the city where installation of a large billboard was not allowed.

However, he said that authorities had lately allowed installation of commercial hoardings on one side of pedestrian flyover on University Road.

The ofñcial said that hoardings on its other side were not allowed.

He said that so far installation of hoardings was not allowed on GT Road and rooftops of buildings and whenever they received information, they took action againstthe violators ofthe ban.

The official said that they received the chief minister`s directives and were framing policy in that regard.directed to remove all billboards along the GT Road.

He said that the chief minister`s contention then was that not only those billboards distracted motorists` attention but also there was a danger of their collapse in case of windstorms.

However, the official admitted that there were no bylaws to regulate the hoardings business in the city.

He said that PDA entered into agreements with contractors about renting hoardings; however, even those agreements didn`t mention in which area the boards would installed.

The official said that there were certain places in the city where installation of a large billboard was not allowed.

However, he said that authorities had lately allowed installation of commercial hoardings on one side of pedestrian flyover on University Road.

The ofñcial said that hoardings on its other side were not allowed.

He said that so far installation of hoardings was not allowed on GT Road and rooftops of buildings and whenever they received information, they took action againstthe violators ofthe ban.

The official said that they received the chief minister`s directives and were framing policy in that regard.