ISLAMABAD: A photograph of garbage dumped in the open in the upscale F-7 sector taken by the German ambassador on Tuesday led to the suspension of two sanitation officials and forced the local administration to collect the unattended garbage.

Ambassador Martin Kobler took a selfie with garbage left in the area, and shared it on Twitter.

He wrote: “Just driving through #Islamabad. There are beautiful parts, but there are also small dumpsites everywhere like here in F 7/4 street 56. It seems solid waste disposal does not work in many parts. Its also a health hazard and breeding ground for dengue moskitos! What can be done? (sic)”

After his tweet went viral, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) removed the garbage and suspended sanitation inspector Zahoor Ahmed and sanitation supervisor Abdul Qayyum.

In response to the ambassador’s tweet, Sanitation Director Sardar Khan Zimri tweeted that the Capital Development Authority and MCI collect garbage house-to-house three times a week.

“But unfortunately workers of private houses dumps garbage at off times and not cooperative. However we try best for best services within limited sources. (sic)”

An MCI official remarked to Dawn that it would be very embarrassing for the local administration if the ambassador visits the capital’s rural areas, where there is no garbage collection system in the first place.

The capital has 50 union councils, of which 32 are rural. While MCI officials do collect garbage from residents’ doorsteps in the urban union councils, there is no system in place in the rural areas.

Last year, the MCI tried to extend its operations to all union councils but was unsuccessful. In these circumstances, residents of rural areas are forced to dispose of garbage in nullahs and vacant land, or hire private cart handlers who collect garbage from people’s homes.

When contacted, Mr Zimri said that the concerned sanitation officials were suspended in response to the ambassador’s tweet. He claimed that garbage was collected regularly early in the morning and that the garbage Mr Kobler had taken the photograph of had been thrown by residents during the day.

When asked about the rural areas, Mr Zimri said efforts to outsource garbage collection in these parts of the capital are ongoing.

The MCI has also placed large garbage containers in several union councils where residents can leave garbage, he added.

“But I do agree that there is need to cater to the entire rural areas and we are trying to outsource it. We will hire the services of a private contractor to lift garbage from the entire rural areas,” he said, adding that the MCI is also exploring options to install a waste-to-energy plant in the capital.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2018