Daily Times

Sir: Through the esteemed columns of your newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of relevant authorities towards the poor and worsening conditions of cleanliness and the drainage system of our town.

The streets are not swept regularly. The municipal cleaning staff has not been seen in the area for the past two months. Large piles of garbage can be seen everywhere around our streets and houses, and these are a source of a terribly pungent smell that none of the residents can bear to experience all day long.

The garbage has also caused our drain system to get blocked really bad, and has caused the dirty drain water to spill out on to the streets, making the situation even worse. This water has turned into big ponds, which is not only adversely affecting the conditions of the roads but also creating problems for users, especially the pedestrians who cannot cross the street without having to step in to the disgusting sludge covering our neighbourhood.

This horrible system of garbage collection has led to many fatal diseases. Flies can be found everywhere, and the static water is giving rise to mosquitoes who spread more disease than anything else. Just recently there was a outbreak of Malaria that has affected a large number of people in the area, and there is a fear that this is just the start. This atmosphere may give birth to many other dangerous diseases like dengue and cholera. If conditions remain the same then we could lose precious lives due to the careless behaviour of the authorities in charge of solving these issues.

I, hereby, request that this matter should be taken seriously by the relevant municipal authority. Some immediate steps must be taken to stop this grim issue so that people can live comfortably. I am looking forward to your prompt and positive response regarding this matter.

UNZA ASLAM

Karachi

Published in Daily Times, September 9^th 2018.