CLEANIT: Helping the government locate unchecked piles of garbage in Karachi

Our social media campaign highlights just how sick Karachiites are of poor sanitation.

Interactive Desk Published July 26, 2016

Tariq Road. — Submitted by Fatima Jaffer Muraj on Facebook

It is a well-established fact that Karachi is the one of the most polluted cities in the world. 12,000 tonnes of waste are produced in the metropolis everyday. Piles of this garbage have become a near-permanent fixture in the city's landscape.

Yet, the trash seems to largely go unnoticed by the authorities. This has previously prompted controversial campaigns by civil society activists.

But is all this about to change?

Sure sounded that way on July 18, when Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah gave a three-day deadline to the city commissioner and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) administrator to get the city cleaned or be ready to ‘face the music’.

Dawn.com ran a social media campaign #CLEANIT over the weekend to help locate waste that the government still needs to clean. Using the hashtag, Karachiites flooded our social media accounts with photos and videos of the garbage, reiterating just how grave the problem of sanitation is in the city.

Here are some of the user submissions:

Muhammad Ali Society. — Submitted by Alfatima Clinics on Facebook

Korangi. — Submitted by Qurat Ul Ain Abbassi on Facebook

Dawood Chowrangi. — Submitted by Anass Shareef on Facebook

Main University Road. — Submitted by Anas Jahangir Puri on Twitter

Gulistan-e-Jauhar. — Submitted by Safeer Ullah on Facebook

Nagan Chowrangi. — Submitted by Madiha Ahmed on Facebook

Soldier Bazar. — Submitted by Zainab Butt on Instagram

Clifton block 5. — Submitted by Arshad Nayani on Facebook

So tell us, has your locality been cleaner since Mr Shah's call?

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Comments (7) Closed

Syed Asad Alam

Jul 26, 2016 12:20pm

My family's home is in Block Q North Nazimabad, and it has grown even more dirtier and filthier as days pass. I don't have any pictures, but just visit the Shahrah-e-Noor Jahan between Abdullah College Chowrangi and Qalandria Chowk, and you'll witness the filthiness yourself.

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Ahmed

Jul 26, 2016 12:22pm

I live in DHA, but unfortunately in the marginalized part. Most of the inhabitants of this area generate so much waste on an hourly basis that it requires a whole brigade, if not a division to clear the mess. All vacant plots are being used as garbage dumps. Most of the residents are not bothered about these conditions and are in fact the major contributing factor. Mr.Shah or some other Shah, the pathetic conditions of our neighborhoods, cities, provinces and the country will continue to get worse with the passage of time.

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N.Sid

Jul 26, 2016 01:05pm

Lahore has a proper garbage collection and disposal and solid waste disposal system in place in the city, and now Lahore has a population of 1.2 crores. Why can't this be implemented in the city of Karachi...because Karachi is being used as a revenue generation engine or all the political class. Only a percentage of that revenue if properly used in Karachi will do wonders and will generate more revenue, but alas, the hindsight and greed of the Sindh and Federal government is deplorable.

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HRK

Jul 26, 2016 01:09pm

I think it is also the people who are to be blamed partially. Where we live, people do not bother walking an extra 50 meters to throw the garbage in the container. Also, we as a community can clean it all up, put up sign boards etc. to create awareness.

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Najaf

Jul 26, 2016 02:46pm

1) Garbage disposal should be outsourced 2) Strict laws against throwing of garbage in wrong places should be made and those who violate should be subjected to heavy fines or punishment. Rod tames every brute!

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Harris

Jul 26, 2016 04:04pm

Govt. knows what to do but there is no will to correct the situation.. People rather move to clean areas than manage their mess and keep areas clean...

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Dr.shamir Baloch

Jul 26, 2016 08:46pm

When there is a will there is a way. There is no will in establishment,niether in bureaucrats who are running the affairs of country,for that matter there is no interest by any political party to take action to clean the city,the heap of garbage accumulated on the streets of city of Karachi.So end of the day citizens of Karachi suffers.

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