THIS is with reference to the article ‘Origins of the OPP sanitation programme’ (Eos, March 31). The Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) has earned respect and appreciation for having provided valuable services to marginalised communities. I worked as general manager of the Sindh Rural Support Organisation (SRSO) from 2003 to 2005 when Arif Hassan was a board member.

We implemented the same OPP model low-cost sanitation programme in Jatoi village in the outskirts of Sukkur. Mr Hassan designed the scheme which was implemented by the SRSO. Despite the success of such a scheme in rural areas, it has not been further replicated in other villages or semi-urban and squatter settlements across urban Pakistan. It is very unfortunate that local governments and civil society organisations/donors did not support the replication of such schemes.

As a result, Pakistan’s rural and urban settlements are not functioning properly, which ultimately creates environmental and social issues. Urban and rural flooding is also caused by improper sanitation systems, and unavailability of drainage systems in urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

The OPP project is still relevant, and the government should replicate the same in other scattered settlements in Karachi and other urban areas in the country.

Aijaz Ali Khuwaja
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2024