Lahore sinking into its own waste.

AS one approaches an LWMC dumping site next to iconic Arfa Kareem tower near the posh locality of Model Town, heaps of waste can be seen from as far as one drifts from the main (Ferozepur) road and stench in the air becomes stronger. This is one of the 24 sites used as a temporary depot before the garbage is transferred to its final destination on Lahore outskirts. The place that is supposed to be emptied every day has not been cleared for several weeks since cleanliness operation has slowed down in the Punjab's capital.

'Here we used to have a fruit market. It was demolished for some other development project a few years ago,' explains fruit vendor Mohammad Ramzan, standing next to the debris of the market. Perhaps the prolonged exposure to the reek has enabled those residing nearby to adapt to it, otherwise the bad smell and heaps of filth in the middle of the debris could have stirred street protests by now. If reports from 23 (secondary) other sites and around 7,000 containers (primary sites) are to be believed, the situation is not quite good either.

The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), which is supposed to lift garbage every day, has been struggling to clear containers in streets and roads and is being grilled by political and social circles for the failure, as waste generation continues to outpace its removal. Over the last two years, the LWMC planned and succeeded in purging the metropolis from two foreign contractors on the plea 'we can clean our city ourselves; why do we need foreign firms for this menial job'. It sounded fine!

In order to execute its plan, the company extended contracts of the foreign firms temporarily after they expired in January and February last year. Then it also did not initiate the process of hiring fresh contractors. Finally, they were shown the door, with their contracts being abrogated 10 days shy of the formal expiry, their premises being raided, machines being confiscated while risking a legal fight. All this was done in the name and claim: 'do we really need foreigner for janitorial services in the city?' However, to add to the company's trouble, international arbitration, costing the country money and reputation, may follow shortly.

LWMC caught between its own claims and the reality

When the moment arrived, the LWMC suddenly realised that it neither has a plan, nor men, machines, or expertise to clean the city. For the last one month, the city is sinking into its own waste - and the Punjab...