KARACHI: “People litter the beach with all kinds of stuff. We found shoes and slippers, clothes, bottles, diapers and even a dead cat,” said Naveed Majid, a class seven student of Defence Authority Model High School (Phase VII), present at the Seaview beach on Tuesday morning for the Cleanliness Awareness Drive and Walk organised by Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC). The walk and beach cleaning between McDonald’s and Chunky Monkey was meant to create awareness in the public, especially the young generation, about the importance of keeping their surroundings clean for a healthy, happy and dynamic living. Students from various DHA schools and colleges took part in the drive wearing gloves, aprons, surgical masks and caps.

“We filled as many as seven trash bags of garbage,” said Ammar Khan.

“But I’m sure, people would still keep littering around. I used to throw away plastic wrappers and other things without even giving it a thought earlier. But I don’t think I would be doing it any longer,” said Abdul Saboor, another young student there.

“Our group must have filled over a dozen trash bags, and we still have more work to do,” said Ranom Hera, a second-year commerce student from DA College for Women (Phase-VIII).

Mahnoor Elahi, another college student, said she could forgive the people who throw away their garbage at the beach because they know no better. “At least we as responsible citizens can pick up after them. And just as today we have realised this our role in keeping our surroundings clean, so would they,” she added.

Meanwhile, Nazar Hayat, a CBC sweepers’ supervisor, regretted how the citizens of Karachi didn’t realise that they were blessed with a beautiful coastline. “Beaches all over the world attract tourists but here they only attract garbage,” he said to the students who promised him to be careful how they dispose of trash in the future.

Later, the students also took part in a walk while carrying placards inscribed with slogans such as ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’, ‘Clean environment for a healthy living’, ‘Say no to pollution’, ‘Protect and preserve the environment’, etc.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2016