Sanitation falls short across Pindi

Despite tall claims by the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC), sanitation arrangements across much of the city remained severely inadequate throughout the three days of Eidul Azha, with residents of numerous inner-city neighbourhoods complaining of unattended animal waste, foul odours and overflowing refuse.

While RWMC workers and supervisory staff maintained a visible presence in major commercial centres and upscale localities, where lime was repeatedly spread and cleanliness drives were carried out, sanitation conditions in dozens of densely populated urban areas remained deplorable. Offal, entrails and other sacrificial waste were left strewn across roads and streets, in some places occupying more than half the carriageway.

Residents also complained that butchers and hide traders operated openly along roadsides, displaying and purchasing animal hides that occupied large sections of public roads. Salt was applied to the hides, but accumulated blood and waste generated a persistent stench across several neighbourhoods.

Although cleanliness standards were largely maintained on key thoroughfares and in affluent districts, conditions in many inner-city areas deteriorated significantly. Union Council 8's Fauji Colony - located less than two furlongs from the residences of Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and local MPA Ziaullah Shah and falling within their electoral constituency - was reported to be among the worst-affected localities.

Residents alleged that no sanitation workers visited the area for the first two days of Eid and that neither sanitation supervisors nor elected representatives, including members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, visited the locality.

They further claimed that neither the Deputy Commissioner nor the Assistant Commissioner City conducted inspections, while RWMC officials also remained absent despite repeated complaints.

Citizens of Fauji Colony launched a social media campaign highlighting piles of waste and uncollected animal remains, but said their appeals went unanswered. Similar complaints were reported from Dhok Khaba Road, Dhok Elahi Bakhsh, Javed Colony, Nadeem Colony, Arya Mohalla, Chah Sultan, Tamma Abad Road, Rawal Road, Jamia Masjid Road, Ghazni Road, Pirwadhai Road, Bagh Sardaran Road, Shakrial Road, Zia-ul-Haq Colony, Peoples Colony, Dhok Syedan, Church Road and Tenth Bhatta, where residents described sanitation arrangements as grossly inadequate.

The RWMC designated the Committee Chowk Sunday Bazaar site as the city's central dumping point for sacrificial waste. Residents living near the facility said the area effectively became a temporary refuse depot during the first two days of Eid.

With only four dumpers stationed at the site, and each vehicle reportedly requiring three to four hours to complete a round trip to disposal locations outside the city, waste accumulated rapidly, causing an overpowering stench.

Residents of nearby localities, including Fauji Colony, Dhok Khaba, Pirwadhai and Shakrial, claimed many families were unable to sleep on the first night of Eid due to the foul smell emanating from the dumping site.

Locals Arshad Khan, Iftikharuddin, Riasat Ali and Shaukat Hussain alleged that the administration concentrated its sanitation efforts on prominent areas such as Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Marrir Chowk, Gawalmandi Bridge, Iqbal Road, Raja Bazaar, City Saddar Road, Ganjmandi Road, Satellite Town, Commercial Market and Saddar Bazaar, where lime was repeatedly spread and cleaning operations were carried out.

"In contrast, the inner city was largely ignored. Sanitation conditions remained extremely poor and many residents were forced to pay RWMC workers between Rs100 and Rs150 to remove sacrificial waste from outside their homes," they said, adding that no disinfectant spraying was carried out in several affected neighbourhoods.