- By: Farah Naz
Pakistan has been grappling with the menace of garbage for so long that it has inched towards touching a point of no return. The nation is beset with a garbage crisis. The manner in which trash continues to accumulate on the roads of Pakistan presents a growing concern which needs to be addressed rapidly. This has persisted into deep rooted ecological, medical and monetary challenges as fast growing urbanization trends coupled with poor planning and ineffective strategies to mitigate waste generation and public negligence aggravate the situation.
Assessment indicates that it would take only longer than five years for big cities in Pakistan to be literally in a garbage wild. The unsightly mess would not only drag human health to dismal levels due to increased disease burden. People often tend to ignore the many economic repercussions of increased trash such as lower property values and reduced chances of investment, which directly affects local businesses. Unless waste is properly disposed off and citizens take responsibility there will be no progress in this sector.
Currently, the best possible Alternatives include formulation of Waste Management Strategies which factor in the Safety Health and Environment approach. Policies geared toward raising community awareness, initiating community clean-up drives and incorporating waste management education in schools need to be instigated in Pakistan.
This waste crisis in Pakistan requires a sense of urgency. Cleanliness cannot be done alone, it takes individual efforts and collective efforts of people around. This will not only help towards keeping roads clean but also deepen the commitment toward a healthier nation and bolstered economy. Pakistan’s streets could be embodiments of progress and development with a little concerted effort.
“Let’s pick up the pieces of our planet, one piece of trash at a time, and create a masterpiece of a cleaner tomorrow.”