FAISALABAD: Free public toilet facility is part of ‘Sohna Faisalabad campaign’, however, dozens of such toilets are non-functional even a year after launch of the beautification drive.

Finding dozens of toilets constructed at a cost of millions of rupees locked, people answer the call of the nature in the open.

Toilets have been set up in a set of three on different roads of the district, however, all are useless for more than one year owing to the negligence of the district administration.

In the second week of May last, former DCO Noorul Ameen Mengal, who launched ‘Sohna Faisalabad campaign’ had promised to make the toilets functional by inking a contract with the Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC). Nothing has been done in this regard as SWMC board of directors head MNA Rana Mohammad Afzal and Mr Mengal had developed differences on various issues. The tussle took its toll on the public facility.

Being third largest city of Pakistan, a large number of people visit Faisalabad daily. A majority of them belongs to poor segments of society and face a great deal of inconvenience because of dysfunctional toilets.

Naveed Ahmed, a rickshaw driver, said people especially the elderly ones travelling in his three-wheelers would ask him to stop the vehicle even in the middle of the road to respond to the call of nature. He said during travelling he had observed a number of toilets on different roads and all were locked. “One of the three toilets near Abdullahpur Chowk is being used as store by someone.”

Sources said a number of toilets had been constructed without proper planning that defaced some public points.

Three toilets had been demolished by the district administration a couple of months ago because of the bad location. All three had been constructed outside the Ladies Park boundary wall, they added.

This correspondent has contacted acting DCO Ijaz Khaliq during the last five days to have his statement on non-operational lavatories, but he didn’t reply.

A hotel owner at Lorry Adda requesting anonymity said they had been facing problems to run their businesses smoothly because of the frequent visits of the commuters who come to the hotel to use toilets, and raids of the police for ‘suspects’.

“Time and again we have to allow elderly people to use lavatories considering their age. The frequent use of toilets has increased our daily cleanliness expenses,” he said.

The hotel owner said action must be taken against the district government officials who failed to make the completed toilets operational even after many months.

He said one could check the foul smell near the Lorry Adda and some other busy parts of the district.

Dr Mohammad Irfan, assistant professor at District Headquarters Hospital, said people at the helm of affairs were well aware that Pakistan had a number of diabetics who required toilets facility for urination.

“I have off and on heard at various forums that efforts must be made to provide public toilet facility to masses, however, nothing is being done practically,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2016