FAISALABAD: Public toilets in most parks and roads have been locked for months creating several problems for visitors, commuters, traders, shopkeepers and motorists.

People are found urinating in the open and the district government has no mechanism to stop them from using streets, bazaars, markets and roads as toilets. Tired of this practice, the district government has now decided to hand over the management of public toilets to the Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC).

The district has a population of over eight million, who were facing shortage of public toilets. The administration spent millions of rupees on the construction of 42 public toilets in different areas. Under the project, three toilets each had been built in parks and on roads. However, majority of densely populated markets of eight Clock Tower bazaars do not have toilets and traders and shopkeepers have to go to nearby mosques or offices.

Naseer Ali was waiting for public transport on University Road when he wanted to use a toilet. He rushed to one nearby only to return disappointed as it was locked. He thus moved behind a tree to relieve himself.

Talking to Dawn, he said: “I have no option but to take a leak publicly. This is wrong. The government should make efforts for the public whose rights are being ignored.”

Pakistan Medical Association Faisalabad chapter Secretary Dr Muhammad Irfan said there were thousands of diabetics in the district who commuted daily. He said these people had to use toilets frequently during travelling as their bladders produced more urine than a normal person’s.

He added: “Patients with diabetes have increased frequency of urination. Majority of senior citizens have prostate-related diseases, which can cause a urinary urgency.”Jinnah and Kaleem Shaheed parks were considered the biggest in the city. However, facilities at the Kaleem Shaheed Park, established for dwellers of poor localities, were scant as compared to Jinnah Park that was frequented by well-off visitors.

Aasia Bibi, visiting the Kaleem Shaheed Park with her children, said absence of toilets had been creating troubles for families. She said it had become difficult to handle children in such circumstances. Neither enjoyment facilities were available at the parks nor basic needs were being focused on at public places, she added.

An employee of Kaleem Shaheed Park said toilets had been locked for many months as the administration had failed to pay electricity bills and the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company had disconnected supply. Owing to this, he said, the number of visitors was declining by the day.

He said due to disconnection of power supply employees and visitors had also been facing a problem with drinking water.

District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal told Dawn initially an NGO had been consulted to run public toilets to help people who took to the roads to answer nature’s call. However, the NGO refused to take up the project.

He said now the SWMC had been contacted to run toilets regularly and the district government would pay salaries to its staff. This time, he said, the district government would not award contracts for toilets and charge from the public for using them.“People will use toilets for free that will ultimately make Faisalabad clean. Owing to charges of Rs5 at public toilets people prefer to use roadsides that is making the environment filthy,” the DCO added.

Making toilets free was part of the ‘Sohna Faisalabad’ campaign underway in the district, he said. He said further under this campaign, a study would be carried out to build more toilets at different points.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2014