Residents of Liaquatabad’s FC Area in Karachi say a vacant plot beside the Government Lal Girls Secondary School has turned into an informal dumping ground, creating hazardous living conditions. Locals report that garbage began accumulating about a month ago after workers from the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) allegedly started unloading waste at the site. Despite repeated complaints to authorities, the pile remains uncollected.
The unremoved trash has produced a foul stench, attracted insects and rodents, and become a fire risk. Hundreds of families, students at the neighboring school and worshippers at the adjoining mosque have been affected. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions have been hardest hit by the deteriorating air quality.
The situation worsened when the waste caught fire on Tuesday — reportedly the second such blaze in recent days — sending thick black smoke across the neighborhood and forcing residents to stay indoors. A Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) fire tender responded and extinguished the fire; officials said no injuries were reported but warned that a delayed response could have led to a much more serious outcome.
Residents have appealed directly to the SSWMB managing director to remove the waste immediately and to prevent future dumping in the densely populated area. They say the inaction highlights both a disregard for public health and a broader, worsening crisis in Karachi’s waste management.
The accounts above are based on local reports. Residents and community representatives continue to press municipal authorities for urgent cleanup and long-term solutions to prevent recurring hazards.
