ISLAMABAD: Improper disposal of waste in the federal capital has become a serious issue, leading to the spread of different diseases.

According to Polyclinic executive director Dr Zahid, due to the lack of a proper waste disposal system, residents of Islamabad were suffering from infectious diseases.

Plastic waste accumulation on city roads, particularly in Faizabad and Pirwadhai, pose a serious threat to the health of citizens, he added.

Dr Mian Tariq of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) said fumes emitting from burning plastic waste could cause serious respiratory problems.

“Open garbage dumps in city areas, including hospitals, have become a nuisance both for the residents and patients. Heaps of garbage produce foul odour making it difficult for people to breathe,” he added.

Dr Tariq said the garbage dumps could also become breeding grounds for bacteria, causing spread of diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria, cholera and dengue.

Meanwhile, the residents have urged the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to adopt a comprehensive policy for the proper disposal of waste, particularly plastic bags, to avoid respiratory diseases.

They said the civic body should adopt a comprehensive mechanism for proper collection and disposal of solid waste as the heaps in Sohan, Faizabad, New Shakrial and other areas posed serious threat to the citizens’ health.

Waheed Khan, a citizen, said residents of Faizabad and Sohan had to breathe in foul stench, emanating from garbage heaps. But the CDA seemed oblivious to the problem as heaps had become a permanent source of nuisance for the residents.

Mohsin Ali, a resident of I-9 Markaz, said the issue of waste disposal required immediate attention of the authorities. Sanitary workers collect waste material from houses and then instead shifting the same to the landfill site dumped it on the roadsides. This caused trouble to the residents, especially elderly people suffering from a range of ailments.

An official of the CDA municipal wing, on the other side, complained that people themselves were responsible for the state of affairs.Instead of throwing waste into dustbins provided by the civic body, the citizens dumped it in the open, he added.

The CDA sanitary officials have also complained that the residents usually throw the waste in streets and sewerage drains.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2016