THE non-functional Model Colony railway station of the defunct Karachi Circular Railway has been turned into a garbage dumping site by the relevant authorities, even though it is in a densely-populated area. Generally in Karachi, not just the sanitation and sewerage systems are in shambles, but other civic services like water, plantation, parks, road and traffic management are also in bad shape.

Despite six months having elapsed since the local bodies’ elections, there are no signs that the local government will be formed and allowed to work. It seems that the majority of the population of this city is being punished for exercising its democratic right of selecting its representatives through the electoral process.

Garbage and sanitation conditions are being used by the authorities, in tandem with the provincial government, to teach voters a lesson. The bureaucracy and the provincial government should show maturity and start sanitation and cleanliness work throughout the city.

Raihan A. K. Lodhi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016