Overflowing gutters force locals to wade in filth

Situation in Sheikhupura started worsening after new LG set-up took charge

SHEIKHUPURA: The people of Sheikhpura are wading in filth as garbage is strewn all over the city and gutters are overflowing across neighbourhoods. The entire sewerage system has been disrupted and a foul smell has spread due to the piles of garbage dumped in various places.

Mohalla Rehmanpura, Shah Colony, Jinnah Park, Khadim Hussain Road, Khang Road, Rehmat Colony, Jandiala Road are the main places in the city where roads are inundated, making peoples’ lives miserable. Children don’t have a place to play as streets are flooded with dirty water.

The city's condition is worsening due to the poor management of the sewerage system which belongs to the Mughal era. For the past several months, neither a public representative nor a district administration official has visited these sites.

Unhygienic conditions in Karachi

The situation started worsening in May this year when the Punjab Assembly passed the bill of the new local government system and removed the recently-elected representatives across Punjab. The majority of them were activists of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Later, power was handed over to district administration officers, who instead of providing basic facilities to the citizens, showed complete indifference.

Citizens in all the five districts, Sheikhupura, Sharakpur, Muridke, Safdarabad and Ferozwala, are facing a lot of problems due to the pathetic conditions.

Sheikhupra Deputy Commissioner Syed Tariq Mehmood Bukhari told The Express Tribune that Revenue Additional Deputy Commissioner Rana Shakeel and all the assistant commissioners of their respective districts have been directed to improve the sewerage system and citizens will soon breathe a sigh of relief.

On the other hand, the newly-elected government representative from Sheikhupura, Provincial Minister for Disaster Management Mian Khalid Mahmood, is unaware of the situation and was unable to comment due to his personal engagement.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Saeed Wark revealed that the PTI has been divided into two groups across the city. Provincial Minister Mian Khalid Mahmood's group is not working to improve the sewerage and sanitation system due to political hostility. Citizens have appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazdar to take notice of this situation and take action against those responsible.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2019.