- The severe lack of public toilets in Pakistan, with 79 million people lacking proper facilities and 25 million practicing open defecation, poses significant public health, safety, and dignity issues, especially for women.
- The Sindh High Court has ordered the construction and maintenance of public restrooms, revealing a severe lack of such facilities in Karachi. Mayor Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui acknowledged the neglect and detailed plans to refurbish and construct toilets in public spaces.
- The absence of public toilets disproportionately affects women, limiting their ability to work, travel, and shop comfortably. Activists emphasize the necessity of these facilities for ensuring sanitation rights and enabling women to navigate public spaces without stress.
For the past eight years, Mariam Hassan has faced a significant challenge in her role as a TV health reporter in Karachi: minimizing her water intake to avoid the need for public toilets. This issue highlights one of Pakistan’s critical public health concerns—access to adequate public restrooms. According to the World Bank, 79 million people in Pakistan lack proper toilet facilities, and a recent UNICEF report indicates that 25 million still practice open defecation.
The shortage of public toilets affects more than just health; it also impacts safety, women’s rights, and human dignity, according to advocates and urban planners. The problem is particularly severe for women, who, in the conservative Muslim society, often cannot use the same facilities as men. “There are no clean facilities available for women,” Hassan shared with Arab News, a sentiment echoed by many women in Karachi, a city of over 20 million people.
Hassan recounted a 2018 incident where she worked from early morning until late at night covering a protest without finding a single public restroom. Eventually, she had to use the restroom at a relative’s house of a cameraman, which she found quite embarrassing.
“Sexual Exploitation is Common in Pakistani Show Biz”: Bee Gul
In response to the dire situation, the Sindh High Court has mandated the construction of new public toilets and the maintenance of existing ones. During a recent court session, it was disclosed that none of Karachi’s 182 graveyards, 33 markets, 42 roads, 970 bus stops, and 133 hospitals have public restrooms.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui acknowledged the issue, stating that access to public toilets had been neglected. He noted that many original plans for public spaces included restrooms, but these facilities have either been repurposed or are in disrepair. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had begun refurbishing old toilets in the city’s zoo and parks even before the court ruling, and there are plans to build new facilities along major roads and in shopping areas.
Public toilets are essential for ensuring citizens’ right to sanitation and their ability to navigate public spaces comfortably, say rights activists. Karachi’s lack of such facilities has particularly affected women, hindering their ability to work, shop, and travel. “Women need to travel, shop, and go to work just like men,” said urban planner Muhammad Toheed. “They should not have to worry about the lack of restroom facilities.”
Javed Ahmed, a longtime resident, reminisced about when Karachi had public toilets, which have since vanished due to neglect and societal attitudes. Mobile toilets, once a common sight, have also disappeared. This absence impacts the working class, especially laborers, rickshaws, taxi drivers, and women.
Summaiya Khursheed, a working professional, highlighted the scarcity of public toilets, noting that even existing ones are often locked. “Toilets are a basic necessity, just like food and water,” she said, adding that markets and public spaces should cater to women’s needs as well.
Housewife Uzma Hassan described the stress women endure before leaving home, knowing they won’t find usable toilets. “We mentally prepare ourselves, shop quickly, and hurry back home,” she said, urging the Sindh government to address this significant issue.
The lack of public toilets is a pressing concern that requires immediate attention to ensure health, safety, and dignity for all, especially women.
Stay tuned to WOW360
