Capital's Women Express Concern Over Lack Of Public Toilets

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Dec, 2018 ) :Women of capital expressed grave concern over the poor conditions of the public toilets in commercial areas saying the facilities were insufficient to cater the demand of ever growing population.

Women, who contribute half of the country population, urged the authorities concerned to improve the condition of the toilets as they were creating serious health hazards.

There were just 100 public toilets in the entire Federal capital built over the years and a number of them were nonfunctional as no maintenance was carried out since long.

Reza Khattak, an owner of wholesale shop in fruit market said, "A large number of women come to buy vegetables and fruits but they did not have tidy and hygienic facility for the basic necessity". He said he allowed women shoppers to use the washroom he built for his personal use in the market.

Sadia Babar a frequent visitor of main markets of capital said, "Women have to carry with them their children while shopping and being sensitive as they were prone to catch various diseases due to pathetic condition of public toilets. "One cannot go back home for the purpose" she regretted.

She said the authorities concerned must build public toilets exclusively dedicated for women to facilitate them.

Nasreen Ansari, a local resident of G-7/4, said the facilities were encroached by kiosks or some other vendors making their usage almost impossible for the women.

Rehan Khan, a salesman in a shop situated at G-11 Markaz said the market owners built washroom for themselves and their tenants but women employees and visitors were totally ignored.

He deplored over the poor condition of public toilets saying the revenue being generated as charging fee for using the facility must be spent for their maintenance and to improve their standard.

Dr Arslan a Medical Specialist warned that the toilets were biggest source of spreading contagious diseases while children were most vulnerable to be affected by poor hygienic conditions.

Expressing displeasure over the capital's public facilities, he said properties in markets have high commercial value but provision of public amenities was being ignored totally.

Director Sanitation, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) Sardar Khan Zimri disagreeing public concern said all the facilities in the capital were working smoothly as MCI was committed to the renovation and proper security of units to facilitate people.

He said modern sanitary equipment was now being installed in the toilets to address the issues of woman, besides a new public toilet unit in F-7 is under construction, he informed.

"We are also planning to build more toilets within the city to meet demand of the growing population", he said.