Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD: Lalarukh, 42, a resident of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad is overwhelmed by the persistent stench emanating from a nearby landfill which she says greets her every time she ascends to the rooftop of her house for a breath of fresh air.
She is dissatisfied with the city’s civic authorities as waste collected from across the city ends up near her Sector I-10. I-10 shares a boundary with the neighbouring garrison city of Rawalpindi, the industrial zone of Sector I-9 and Sector I-11 where the dumping ground is located.
Pre-planned city
Planed between 1959 and 1963 by Greek architect CA Doxiadis, Islamabad was conceived as a low-density administrative city, according to the Pakistan Institute of Development Sciences (PIDE).
But what was planned to be a city of the future by its architect is now turning into another case of urban decay.
“The unpleasant odour from the nearby dumping site is a testament to the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) poor handling of solid waste,” Lalarukh maintains.
CDA is the main civic agency responsible for the development, regulation and planning of Islamabad.
“The poor quality air also serves as a constant reminder of the industrial activities going on in the city,” she says.
Despite fulfilling her responsibilities as a citizen, Lalarukh feels her quality of life is compromised.
Perceived discrimination
She argues that CDA has shown a clear bias towards more affluent sectors like E-7, F-7 and F-8, directing development efforts there while neglecting areas like I-11, where the dumping site is located.
This perceived discrimination has left residents feeling marginalised and in need of urgent attention from the authorities.
Citizens believe the lack of a proper landfill site also tarnishes Islamabad’s image as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world.
“Ad-hocism”
The establishment of a landfill site in Islamabad has long been plagued by challenges, prompting civic authorities to rely on temporary solutions.
Mashooq Ali Shaikh, Director of Sanitation at Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), revealed that they were acquiring land in Losar, Rawalpindi, for a suitable landfill site.
“Ongoing discussions with Rawalpindi authorities are part of this effort,” he said.
However, the dumping of Islamabad’s waste at Losar in Rawalpindi has drawn backlash from citizens as the neighbouring garrison city already grapples with waste management issues.
For the last two years, civic authorities have been disposing of waste at Losar and this arrangement has recently been extended for another six months, highlighting the ongoing struggle to find a permanent solution.
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CDA has to renew its contract with the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) every six months. The latest extension, from April 4 to October 3, 2024, includes a tipping fee of Rs1,350 per ton for waste management services.
“An outstanding issue”
Despite its establishment in the 1960s, the CDA has yet to develop a modern landfill facility comparable to those in other major cities worldwide.
A CDA official revealed on the condition of anonymity that the agency spends over Rs2 billion annually on waste management.
He noted that if a proper landfill site was established, the CDA could potentially generate revenue by utilising waste for energy projects.
The lack of a proper landfill site has even drawn the attention of the Islamabad High Court, which has directed the CDA to address the issue.
The court also ordered the CDA to ensure that no waste is dumped in temporary locations within residential areas.
In 2011, the CDA identified a potential landfill site at Kuri, in Rawalpindi, based on recommendations from an international consultant. An access road was constructed, but the project was abandoned, reportedly due to pressure from influential figures.
Since then, the CDA has been shifting its temporary landfill sites from one location to another.
CDA’s plan
CDA Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa says a separate waste management company for the federal capital is on the cards.
“The Capital Waste Management Company (CWMC) is being established to enhance sanitation services in the federal capital. The new agency modelled after the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) will focus on managing solid waste and implementing integrated solid waste management programmes,” Randhawa said.
“Once operational, CWMC will categorise waste disposal across the city, ensuring separate systems for residential areas, commercial zones, hospitals, and green spaces”.
