Dawn, citing ANI, reports that Pakistan’s two largest cities are confronting a worsening waste-management emergency, with Islamabad and Karachi struggling to keep streets, open areas and waterways clean. Residents across urban and rural neighborhoods are contending with litter-strewn roads, foul odours, dust and what local observers describe as toxic air.
In Islamabad, neglect is most visible in rural outskirts where no formal collection system exists. Households commonly discard rubbish into nullahs and open grounds. Secondary collection by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is irregular, and rural waste-management contracts that lapsed a year ago have not been renewed, producing patchy service. Urban coverage has been maintained only through ad hoc deployments of CDA staff, former contractor crews and machinery. Multiple attempts this year to outsource comprehensive waste services were repeatedly cancelled; several bids submitted against a November tender remain under evaluation.
Karachi faces parallel problems across both planned and informal settlements. Overflowing bins and unattended refuse along main thoroughfares, together with open dumping on riverbanks and in nullahs, have created persistent health and environmental hazards. Communities near the Malir River report constant stench, dust and foul gases; air pollution and unsanitary conditions are disrupting daily life and raising the risk of disease.
Dawn also observed large numbers of birds and flies congregating at dump sites, aggravating public-health concerns. Citing World Health Organization and UN-Habitat guidance, the report cautions that transfer stations should only serve as temporary, covered storage. Without sealed containers and proper facilities, such sites effectively become informal dumps and heighten threats to urban health and hygiene.
Failed contracts, inconsistent services and inadequate infrastructure indicate authorities have been unable to sustain basic sanitation, leaving residents exposed to serious health risks and worsening living conditions in both cities.
