Govt Employees to Use Bicycles for Work

Government employees in Rawalpindi may be using bicycles for work as the district administration continues to tackle the problem of increasing smog in the city.

According to the details, the district administration is taking innovative steps beyond cracking down on smoke-emitting sources. Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema has proposed a unique solution to encourage government employees to commute using bicycles.

Cheema revealed to The Express Tribune that the administration is contemplating a pilot project where a designated number of employees from each government office, initially ranging from five to ten, would be required to regularly commute to work on bicycles. This directive would particularly apply to younger government employees, aiming to promote their well-being and discourage the use of cars and motorcycles for commuting.

As part of this initiative, the district administration plans to organize a cycle rally to raise awareness about combating smog and air pollution. The broader strategy involves reducing the number of vehicles on the roads by incorporating bicycles and making the streets more bike-friendly, ultimately positively impacting air quality.

While pursuing these efforts, the district administration remains committed to its crackdown on vehicles, industrial units, and brick kilns contributing to smog. Cheema emphasized that no offenders would escape accountability. Notably, significant penalties have already been imposed on industrial units and brick kilns emitting smoke, and thousands of vehicles have been issued fines for emissions.

Cheema highlighted the multifaceted benefits of these measures, including cost savings, improved health, and a reduction in air pollution. Additionally, the provincial caretaker transport minister, Ibrahim Hasan Murad, announced plans to launch cost-effective electric bikes. Government employees would have the option to lease these electric bikes, further promoting sustainable commuting. Murad also mentioned using surveillance cameras from the Safe City project to identify smoke-emitting vehicles, ensuring owners face punitive action.

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