(Pareesa Afreen)

As I step out of my home, ready to face the day’s challenges, I am greeted by a stark reminder of an ongoing issue that plagues Karachi, my beloved. The once-vibrant metropolis stands overshadowed by the negligence of authorities, a testament to the mismanagement that has allowed its beauty to be marred by filth and waste.

We know how to keep our homes and workplaces absolutely clean, but forget to do the same with our streets and public places. It’s our responsibility to care of our city, just like we do about our property. Every morning, 12,000 to 14,000 tonnes of garbage accumulates in Karachi, for which only one treatment plant is operational in the city, of which only sixty percent of the waste is disposed off. The remaining garbage is spread in the city, causing air and water pollution which is increasing every day

Our city Karachi, has immense potential and rich heritage, is battling a grave crises due to the improper handling of solid and liquid waste. The very foundation of our environment is under threat because of this mismanagement. Conversations with environmentalists at the Urban

Resource Center shed light on the situation’s gravity.

Climate change, waste management challenges, and their potential solutions are topics that demand our immediate attention. During a recent interview, I had the privilege of speaking with Zahid Farooq, a senior environmentalist at URC. He highlighted the government’s efforts to address the waste issue, citing the installation of three water treatment plants in Karachi. He said  TP1  and TP 2 are totally shut down while TP3 was washed away in the 2020 heavy. On the other hand, only two main landfill sites exist in District West for waste disposal, it remains disheartening to witness heaps of refuse strewn across gutters, roads, and streets. Even posh localities and the beaches including Seaview emanate a foul smell and pathetic sight

Seema Liaquat aptly emphasized that the impact of this waste crisis extends to ocean life as well. Polluted waters not only jeopardizes our marine ecosystems but also pose a direct threat to our own well-being as we consume seafood tainted by the contamination.  Meanwhile, the burning of municipal garbage in the port city is posing serious environmental threats to its people. It has accelerated the air pollution in the city and also causing different diseases particularly of respiratory tract, nasal allergy, various ENT infections, asthma, skin, eye and lung diseases.

One sees heaps of garbage on Karachi’s streets no matter if its the posh Clifton area or the middle-class Nazimabad neighborhood. Lower income areas like Orangi town and Landhi are worse and sinking in trash because the garbage problem has been around for a long time.

Issues like cutting down trees and not planting new ones, and throwing waste into the sea instead of properly disposing it, are making the waste problem bigger. Citizens must hold the authorities accountable and demand effective waste management strategies. Recycling and proper disposal should become second nature, and the government’s initiatives should be supported and supplemented by community-led initiatives. Our choices today will determine the legacy we leave for generations to come.

Karachi’s struggle with waste management demands a clarion call for action. We stand at a crossroads, where the path to a cleaner, greener future is within reach. Let us unite, as responsible stewards of our city, to reclaim its beauty and ensure that Karachi thrives as a shining example of sustainable living. The time for change is now, and it starts with each one of us. The people of Karachi can make a difference by working together. It’s important to keep the city clean and protect the sea. With the right actions, Karachi can become a clean and beautiful place again, for people and nature to enjoy.