Daily Times

In the midst of increasing pollution and air that is difficult to breathe, we all want to see a cleaner, greener and beautiful Pakistan. Imagine driving in our country, green trees lining the gleaming streets under the sun, with clean, fresh air to breathe and a glistening seashore to enjoy over the weekend. But this thought quickly crashes as the image of huge piles of garbage and random street litter come into our minds. Burning garbage and everything from dirty plastic bottles to chewed gum – everything is a common sight here.

Garbage, pollution, burning of plastic, lack of sanitation, diseases and the scarcity of greenery are some of the major environmental issues of Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s initiative of Clean & Green Pakistan (CGP) should be appreciated as it is one of the first steps taken to make Pakistan a visually appealing country, with a healthy environment. This initiative has focused on many different problem areas. Awareness for proper sanitation along with personal hygiene awareness, waste management programmes and safe drinking water for everyone were all part of the initiative, along with the much-needed tree plantation.

Many organisations partnered up with the government in this initiative through their HogaSaaf Pakistan campaign.

As a company that has been serving Pakistan with quality products of hygiene, they took the opportunity to support the government in their CGP campaign by organizing many events and awareness campaigns to raise the issue to the citizens.

Cleanathons made a huge impact on the youth as this age group thirsts for a clean Pakistan, while the plantation drive provided information nation-wide on the need of more trees, which resulted in the plantation of trees and flowers in schools, colleges and as an inauguration ritual.

HogaSaaf Pakistan simply did not stop there. Safe Sanitation supported through awareness related to public toilets, while a huge hype about hygiene in various schools and colleges was also created. They also held hands with the government in making possible good solid waste management to eradicate waste-borne diseases.

Now that the authorities are making an effort, who do we blame for the mess now?

HogaSaaf Pakistan is still a dream of the future, because while we love blaming the government not taking proper action, we ourselves do not make the effort to bring a change we want.

The initiative of Clean & Green Pakistan (CGP) should be appreciated as it is one of the first steps taken to make Pakistan a visually appealing country, with a healthy environment. This initiative has focused on many different problem areas. Awareness for proper sanitation along with personal hygiene awareness, waste management programmes and safe drinking water for everyone were all part of the initiative, along with the much-needed tree plantation

Us as citizens are responsible for the litter we throw on the streets after eating a pack of chips or the mess we make on food streets without giving it a second thought. An authoritative body can only try, but unless the entire population of a country does not collectively make a vow to bring about this clean, green Pakistan, there is not much hope.

The noble aim of the HogaSaaf Pakistan campaign can be achieved within no time, only if us as regular citizens of the country realize how much power we have; we really can make the impossible, possible. Pakistan is our home and we need to take responsibility towards ourselves, our houses and our neighbourhood, if we want to see it prosper.

It’s time we stop this blame game and take charge. When we take the responsibility to keep Pakistan clean, that is when HogaSaaf Pakistan will achieve its goals.