Civic facilities : Lavatory shortages leave women short changed

Administrator says they have enough money now to invest in toilets.


Sarfaraz Memon April 11, 2011

SUKKUR:


Two MNAs, four MPAs and a senator from the Pakistan Peoples Party belong to Sukkur but none of them have helped the city develop basic facilities, such as public toilets.


Residents, shoppers, even doctors are troubled by the lack of toilets. “There should be public toilets in every shopping area,” said Dr Mueen. “During the clinic hours, many women come to my clinic just to use the washroom,” he added.

Dr Mueen believed that the markets in Sukkur are only catering to the needs of residents, expecting people to have access to their homes in the nearby vicinity. “Our wholesalers come from other cities and towns and they need public toilets.”

In the Mehran Markaz shopping area, situated at Clock Tower, public toilets have been set up and the taluka municipal administration contractor charges people Rs5 per visit. These toilets are, however, so dirty that people are unable to use them.

It is easier for men to attend to the call of nature as they have access to mosques but female shoppers have no options. “I have to rush back to home from the market whenever I have to use the bathroom,” Mrs Tanveer told The Express Tribune. “Thank God, I live near the market, otherwise it would have been very difficult.”

Her children have, however, embarassed her several times in the bazaar. “Whenever they accompany me and need to use the bathroom, I have to ask the shopkeepers to let them use theirs,” she added.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Sukkur administrator Abdul Shakoor Mahar accepted that the condition of the public toilets in Mehran Markaz is very bad. He said that the renovation and repairs will start in a couple of days.

“Big shopping malls without washrooms are useless,” Mohammad Arif Memon said. Many times, women have no other option but to knock on random houses and ask to use their washroom, but no one lets them in, he added.

The city administrator also felt that the provision of public toilets is the most important job of the administration. “Earlier, we were short on funds but now we have enough funds,” Mahar said. “We have identified some places in the city where public toilets will be constructed soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th,  2011.

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