Secure relief: Karachi to have 200 public toilets with security
City wardens will stand outside the bathrooms for safety.
KARACHI:
The city is identifying sites for honeycomb-shaped toilets designed by architect Arshad Shahid Abdulla, which people will be able to use for Rs5.
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.
The city is identifying sites for honeycomb-shaped toilets designed by architect Arshad Shahid Abdulla, which people will be able to use for Rs5.
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.