KARACHI:
Recently, the issue of air pollution in Karachi has repeatedly garnered much international attention owing to the fact that the city’s air quality is the worst in the world. Even though solving the issue will require city-wide implementation of sustainable practices and commitment from various stakeholders, concerned authorities can, as a start, pursue ground-level initiatives such as picking up trash and clearing drainage lines. This will create help in creating a foundation for a sustainable future.
Heaps of garbage line every nook and corner of Karachi. What was once considered as the city of lights and one of the biggest metropolitan cities of the world is now globally known as one of the dirtiest. The Economic Intelligence Unit ranks it among the 10 least livable cities in the world. According to official figures, the city produces up to 16,000 metric tons of domestic garbage every day, on top of heaps of commercial and industrial waste. However, the daily disposal at landfills is only between 7,000 and 8,000 tons. This raises the question as to where the rest of the solid waste goes. The answer is simple: it lies all around us, along our streets, roadsides, vacant plots, and even in drainage canals and sewers. Plastic disposal at our beaches, by both industries and people, is another tale which has caused irreversible harm to our marine ecosystem.
This shows the depth of the issue. However, majority of citizens still remain unaware of the brewing environmental crisis. The issue is therefore the collective responsibility of all entities and individuals that are a part of this city.
Fawad Khan
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2021.
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