Unchecked dumping of industrial and domestic effluent continues to endanger the lives and livelihoods of Karachi’s citizens. A study conducted at Karachi University’s Institute of Environmental Studies based on 38 sediment and water samples from Korangi creek has found that levels of ammonia, cyanide, lead and decaying organic matter are dangerously high in Korangi’s water and soil. Toxic fumes from industrial waste are also a major health hazard for the area’s population. Also read: Stop violence against transgenders This is not the only site in Karachi that suffers from heavy pollution. The city has long been considered one of the most polluted in Pakistan, if not the world. This is probably one of the many problems which may have prompted Karachiites to choose the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the 2018 general elections over the Pakistan People’s Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pak Sarzameen Party, since it was the only party offering a new faces and a promise of ‘change’. However, the situation has now been exacerbated to the point that many communities are now at risk, such as the fishermen of Karachi, who now have to travel further out into the sea to catch the fish they depend on to survive. This is because the dumping of industrial and human waste in Karachi’s coastline has left it increasingly inhospitable to marine life. If this doesn’t change soon, the fishermen based around Karachi’s coastline could soon find themselves out of work. Now that the PTI has emerged as the dominant political force in Karachi, it will be expected to deliver. Especially since PTI manifesto promises to transform Karachi and, among other things, revive fisheries. It also promises to alleviate poverty across the country’s poorest districts and end water scarcity. These are two problems, which are directly connected to Pakistan’s pollution issue, particularly the contamination of its groundwater reserves. Pollution, health and clean water were also a part of Imran Khan’s 10-point agenda when he addressed Karachiites in Gulshan-e-Iqbal this May. Of course, cleaning up a city as large and densely populated as Karachi will not be easy, especially when it is the PPP that will be forming the Sindh provincial government. The local governments in Karachi would need to be strengthened and perhaps the federal government will have to inject additional resources into the megapolis. Nonetheless, we at the Daily Times strongly hope that tackling pollution stays on the agenda for mainstream parties now that the general elections are over. It needs to be our top priority at the national and local levels. * Published in Daily Times, July 31st 2018.