By ZarWali & Waqar Hussain Shah
Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur formally launched the “Pak Saaf o Shaaf Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” program in a special ceremony held in Peshawar, marking a revolutionary initiative to ensure effective and long-term sanitation arrangements across rural areas of the province.
The program, with an allocated grant of Rs. 8,887.991 million, covers 3,633 village councils simultaneously and aims not only to improve sanitation but also to generate employment opportunities. To date, 11,388 new jobs have been created through a transparent recruitment process, with 9,738 officials already deployed and further recruitment underway. Special arrangements include provision of loader rickshaws, uniforms, sanitation kits, tractors, and mini dumpers to support cleanliness drives across both plain and hilly areas.
Highlighting the importance of the program, the Chief Minister stated that it reflects the vision of Imran Khan for equitable rural and urban development. He emphasized that the initiative goes beyond a cleanliness campaign, serving as a sustainable model that integrates public health, employment creation, and social development. 
The program also introduces a model tax schedule under the Local Government Act to ensure sustainability, while monitoring committees at the village council level will safeguard transparency and accountability.
Sanitation challenges have long plagued rural Pakistan, contributing to diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and malaria, which disproportionately affect poor households. The “Pak Saaf o Shaaf” program is expected to reduce these health risks, promote a cleaner environment, and contribute to building a balanced, healthy, and prosperous society.
The provincial government, however, stressed that the success of the initiative depends on active community participation, as citizens must play their role in maintaining cleanliness, monitoring sanitation staff, and ensuring compliance with SOPs for waste management.
Chief Minister Gandapur concluded with the note that this program has been launched in the spirit of public service above politics. It is proof that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government places top priority on the prosperity of rural areas and the welfare of the people.
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