The toilets will be built by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC). The CPLC has already taken over the management of 56 public toilets.
If everything goes according to plan, around 200 public toilets will be built in the next few months across the city’s busy markets, such as Saddar and Tariq Road.
A city warden will be standing outside for security. “There will be a towel, soap and the bathrooms will be cleaned continuously,” said municipal commissioner, Matanat Ali Khan. “There is no reason for people not to use it.”
Khan said that KMC realises the need for public toilets in a city like Karachi. Unlike the previous attempt, which went largely unnoticed, KMC has now decided to encourage people to use them.
“The project won’t be left half-done,” assured Khan. “Everything is being done to make them sustainable. Right now we are arranging for more funds.”
KMC will erect billboards at a prominent place to give people directions. “All the locations will be identified in newspaper advertisements,” he said.
“Unfortunately, there are all sorts of fears in people’s minds,” said the municipal commissioner. “What if someone gets in while they are using it?”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Is it just me or does the graphic above look like a giant toilet roll to anyone else?
Security for public toilets, one warden guarding one bathroom what a waste of tax payer's money
@RH. The toilets are not 'inside' the mosque, they are built outside the mosque. Most can be accessed without even having to go into the mosque courtyard. No disrespect if someone wishes to use these facilities.
Thanks God that after 65 years of independence heads have rolled to make public toilets.
Pakistan is running 200 years behind from the developed nations.
There will be seven more generations to come to get the same kind of facilities for the citizens which people are enjoying in developed countries.
This is one of the basic reasons for the brain drain from Pakistan.
Someone just got himself contract big enough to feed 3 future generations courtesy of our faecal matter. Congratulations!
@Asafd: circular reasoning anyone? Maybe the need for toilets is being fulfilled by the mosques because there aren't enough viable alternatives? What if people don't want to go to a mosque just to use a toilet? Mosque is a place of worship, it has its own function - let those who have gone to the mosque go there because they want to pray. Otherwise it disrespects the mosque.
Another example of poor management of funds. We all know that the need for toilets is currently being fulfilled by the toilets of mosque. Rather than constructing new toilets, why dont the government support mosque trusts to improve the condition of their toilets and let them open round the clock for everyone. We can have more toilets with less cost
"What if someone gets in while they are using it?" it's lame but I got to ask... how about using locks?
For history of protecting effluent personalities in government, security agencies won't have problem with the lavatory security.
do we really need them...?? Another scam on its way i reckon....!!
Will these secure toilets be secure against American drone attacks. However, I think we should be OK. The word missile starts with miss. I am being facetious folks, but In these troubled times I think we have to have a little humour.. Seriously though, having efficient sanitary facilities is very important. Even some Western countries, France for example, should be looking at the efforts of KCC.