The Islamabad district administration has launched a significant campaign to ensure all billboards in the city are removed. Due to recent windstorms that have struck the capital, causing considerable trouble, the city has ordered large advertisements to be taken down.
The National Press Club (NPC) was at the center of the incident on Tuesday, when a windstorm brought down a large billboard, creating the immediate reason for the government crackdown. As the structure tumbled, nearby people and vehicles became seriously at risk. Trees were uprooted by the stormestorm,, and fiberglass shades from rooftops and terraces were torn loose, with bits of debris causing traffic trouble on nearby streets.
Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon has issued a notice to demolish billboards in all parts of his district, including both urban and rural areas. Billboards are officially present only in the National Press Club and on the Srinagar Highway near Sector G-13. Still, officials have stated that unofficial and unsafe billboards are prevalent in many rural areas of Islamabad.
The removal is being carried out as part of a comprehensive plan to manage disasters and maintain city safety. Response teams are active, and assistant commissioners are inspecting low-lying areas in the city to guard against urban flooding. The government is preparing for the monsoon, wwhich posesa risk of even more extreme weather.
There have been many severe weather incidents in Islamabad lately. Last month, a major hailstorm left many neighborhoods in the city damaged, primarily those near the Margalla Hills. Many of the vehicles, solar panels, rooftops and buildings we passed were severely damaged. A second storm hit just afterward, adding to the damage and making people in the area uneasy.
Tuesday’s windstorm demonstrated once again how climate change can impact urban structures. As the powerful winds blew, many residents took refuge wherever they could, including motorcyclists who wanted safety under nearby bridges in case another hailstorm happened.
Seeing these weather incidents more frequently, both citizens and officials worry that such events are becoming increasingly severe. Calls are being made for officials to review the city’s construction rules, planning methods and how it responds to emergencies to prepare Islamabad for climate change better.
Removing billboards is being praised by safety campaigners for helping to prevent accidents and save both lives and property. It demonstrates that city leaders now see the need to respond to new weather patterns and take steps to protect outdoor areas.
