Nearly 18 months after waste management operations were outsourced, residents of four villages and adjoining settlements in Union Council 182 of Faisalabad say sanitation services remain substandard, raising questions about the performance of the Suthra Punjab Agency and its contractor.
Complaint Filed Against Suthra Punjab Agency
In a complaint submitted to the Suthra Punjab Authority Lahore against the Suthra Punjab Agency Faisalabad and its contracted firm, residents of Chak 4 JB Arfa Karim Nagar alleged that essential cleanliness indicators have not been implemented effectively. These indicators include waste management, door-to-door garbage collection, road and street cleanliness, reduction of open dumping sites, complaint response mechanisms, availability of sanitation machinery, staff attendance, recycling, and drain cleaning.
Residents claimed that no proper waste enclosure or designated dumping point has been established in the union council, forcing communities to manage solid waste on their own.
Vice Chairman Highlights Ground Reality
Vice Chairman of UC 182, Chaudhry Arshad Waheed, said that although the contractor's performance was being monitored through a real-time dashboard linked with field data, complaints, and staff performance, the ground situation was different. He alleged that sanitation workers visit rural areas only occasionally and that regular waste collection services are not being provided as required.
Lack of Infrastructure and Monitoring
The absence of designated waste enclosures has led to open dumping, posing health and environmental risks. Residents have been forced to dispose of waste in vacant plots or burn it, causing air pollution. The real-time monitoring system, which is supposed to track contractor performance, appears ineffective in ensuring service delivery in remote areas.
According to the complaint, the contractor fails to maintain adequate staff attendance, and the complaint response mechanism is slow or non-existent. Recycling and drain cleaning activities are also neglected.
Demand for Immediate Action
Residents have demanded that the Suthra Punjab Authority take immediate action to improve sanitation services in UC 182. They call for the establishment of proper waste collection points, regular garbage collection schedules, and strict monitoring of the contractor's performance. The community hopes that their complaint will prompt authorities to address the longstanding issue.
