SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Deteriorating sanitation condition in Rustam Bazaar Wana, a commercial hub in Lower South Waziristan, has sparked widespread concern among residents and traders, who have raised serious concern over the poor performance of local municipal administration.

According to local citizens including shopkeepers, sanitation situation in Rustam Bazaar has worsened significantly over recent days, with garbage accumulating at multiple points and foul smells spreading across the commercial areas.

They alleged that sanitation staff of the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) has been largely absent from duty, resulting in unchecked waste accumulation and growing public inconvenience.

Traders operating in Rustam Bazaar expressed deep concern over the worsening conditions, stating that the market, which serves as one of the busiest economic centres in the region, has been severely affected.

They said that poor sanitation not only discouraged customers but also threatened public health, particularly during warmer weather conditions when the risk of disease outbreaks increased.

Residents further complained that drainage system in the Rustam Bazaar was also malfunctioning, contributing to stagnant water in several areas. They warned that if immediate corrective measures were not taken, the situation could escalate into a broader public health crisis.

The business community has urged the authorities to launch an urgent cleanliness operation and ensure regular monitoring of municipal services. The citizens have called upon the KP chief secretary and the secretary Local Government to take immediate notice of the situation and direct the authorities concerned to restore sanitation services without delay.

They stressed that repeated complaints in the past have gone unanswered, resulting in continued deterioration of civic facilities in the area.

Tehsil Municipal Administrator (TMA) Wana, Ihsan, acknowledged the prevailing sanitation issues in Rustam Bazaar, adding that he had already submitted an application on June 3 to relinquish his charge from the department concerned.

He further said that responsibility for sanitation management would be transferred to a newly appointed Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) once the administrative transition was completed.

He said that under the current circumstances, he was unable to take effective administrative action, as the process of handover was already underway. His remarks have, however, raised further concerns among residents, who questioned the continuity of municipal services during administrative transitions.

Local residents and traders have also voiced concerns over the performance of the current TMA staff, alleging inefficiency and negligence in the discharge of civic duties. They further stated that weak governance and inadequate supervision have significantly contributed to the deteriorating cleanliness conditions in the bazaar.

They demanded that the performance of the current municipal staff be reviewed immediately and accountability measures be taken against those found negligent in their duties.

They were of the view that without strict oversight and operational reforms, civic issues in Rustam Bazaar will continue to intensify.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026