Cleanliness process in KP is in the doldrums

For contributing in Clean and Green Pakistan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP government has established a Turkish-sponsored Water and Sanitation Supply Company (WSSC) but it is unfortunate to note that, the company has been found in the doldrums.

Cleanliness process in KP is in the doldrumsThis company was introduced by the previous regime of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf because of alleged object irregularities in Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA). Owing to its appalling situation of the latter, objectives for WSSC was set to ensure better facilities of sanitation and water supplies to the masses.

Interestingly, with the huge budgetary allocation of 3.363 billion rupees in the last fiscal year 2018-2019 for new machinery and 2 billion in current budget 2019-2020 merely for new projects, still there are old small and leaked containers and bins and no considerable development has been made.

Comparison with other countries

Let’s see what Environmental Performance Index has stated in its report in 2018. According to the EPI, 2018, Pakistan is one of the first 10 worst countries in terms of pollution and unhygienic water.

Unfortunately, it raked our country on a shocking figure of 169th out of 180 countries. On the other hand, EPI has declared Switzerland, Sweden, Malta and France the most cleaned countries. How they achieved this status? However, awareness, literacy rate and strict rule of law matter a lot.

In spite of exorbitant perks and privileges, still the progress of this country, in terms of cleanliness measures, depicts a bleak picture. This is all because of numerous flimsy measures which have not been letting this country develop and pollution free.

To set it as a fascinating example before others, proper policy mechanisms are needed to be sketched and then implemented at the first place

Organizational Hierarchy

In addition to this, the organizational hierarchy for the Water and Sanitation Company has been set of handing over pivotal responsibilities to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in every city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

However, as ill-luck would have it, this has not appeared to be up to the mark step because it has razed the intensity of supervision of the upper management/political leadership. KP The lack of check and balance approach has not only made it stagnant but also made top to bottom employees irresponsible.

No advance machinery

In addition, apropos the KP government’s investment, there is no appropriate machinery in every city (except Peshawar) for cleanliness measures which has left the cities filthy. Where does the fund go?

Merely on salaries or what? The places which are continually being burnished are none other than main roads and Bazaars because the key personalities visit mere main areas.

Take an example of ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaar’, the Chief Minister visited those Bazaars in the holy month in every city for ensuring less costly commodities on government’s issued rates. During those sacred days, all the officials have truly performed their duties what they have been paid for. The performance was appreciable during those days but what about the rest of 11 months?

No positive changes have been witnessed

On the other hand, people have been frustrated from the smelly garbage in streets and in front of main doors which is itself a testimony of mismanagement of CEOs. No changes have been witnessed as the situation is as same as the times of state-owned municipal administration.

Some nitty-gritty questions arise here that since the establishment of Water and Sanitation Company what it has changed and improved in our environment?  Either it has ameliorated water supply conditions, cleaned every corner of the cities or eradicated pollution. Obviously the positive changes are very few. Yes, Minuscule!

What is the difference between Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and WSSC as the cities are still in a deteriorated state?

Results are gloomy but aid is more than enough:

A renowned writer Samia Waheed Altaf writes in her book “So Much Aid; So Little Development” that, Pakistan has received foreign aids in billion dollars on account of development programs but there is a very minute development in this regard.

Similarly, this Company is also being bolstered by USAID. Its stickers on almost everything: air-conditions, printers, computers, laptops and even all cupboards have been punched but, why it is still in a staggering state?

Borrowed Staff

Sadly, it has not its own staff. Many employees have been borrowed from Tehsil Administration for an undefined period. Are not they following the same old policies of the latter which the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf wanted to brush aside? Then, how can one wish to see the newly set objectives completed?

Old and precarious policies

If this system runs on the same fissured pitch, how would it be launched in other provinces and contribute to the global environment?  Nevertheless, a few changes in policies are proved as mandatory to meet the targets and contribute to the KP cleanliness clean and green Pakistan.

Suggestions

Hiring external auditors:

  1. Budget allocation is more than enough but what is the need of the hour is close monitoring. Most importantly, unlike internal auditors, preference should be given to external auditors who identify what, where and how funds are being further allocated and submit a report to the Board of Directors, Water and Power and Environmental ministries and Chief Secretary. This will pave way for its smooth flow of development.

Regularly quarterly meetings:

  1. Secondly, regional committees ought to be made for regular quarterly meetings. Targets should be broken to 3 months. In this tenure, reports of initiated and proposed projects and a comprehensive detail of issues which the consumers have been facing should be submitted. Regular discussions make employees answerable to the authorities and the fruitful results start to take place.

The above suggested policies would help consumption of funds on right place

  1. These steps would improve consumption of the budgetary allocations. Slowly and gradually, the vacuum would be filled with machinery, own-employees and new development projects.

Staff reshuffling: 

  1. Fourthly, re-shuffling policies of CEOs and all the management of bottom-line should be reviewed. It is pivotal to change the employees’ location/environment after 2-3 years which give them space to exercise their job description with new zeal.

Emphasizing on the rationale flaw

Moreover, not to forget that WSSC has taken place of KP TMA because it was and is in a precarious state of alleged irregularities and now employees of the latter have been performing their duties there. The need is to get rid of the quavering influence of TMA and do not let the former’s policies to be infused in a Turkish-backed Company.

Technical Training

Last but not the least, professional and technical training is required to channelize the development process as well as improve the consumer’s satisfaction.

If we will not strive to make our environment healthy, then who will be made it for us?

By Hadi Paracha

Graduated from Kohat University of Science and Technology and have been working as a freelancer in social organizations and newspapers.