Shortage of civic facilities at busy bus stops of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad especially unhygienic conditions of public washrooms increases plight of passengers.
Over hundreds of passengers visit Pirwadai, Karachi Company and Faizabad almost every day, but the number of washrooms established at these stops is not sufficient to fulfil their requirement and are not in good condition.
A large number of vendors also spend the whole day at these stops to earn their livelihood but this problem affect them the most. A passenger Akhtar at Karachi Company said that he came from Faisalabad with his family and heading towards Rawat but waiting for a free toilet for half an hour.
Most of the passengers, particularly females and children suffered the most due to this problem, he remarked. Another passenger Asma said that condition of these toilets are also very bad. "They are filthy and stinky and I always avoid to use them", she said.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) has set up these toilets for passengers but did not pay any heed towards its maintenance and cleanliness, she said in a depressing tone.
A bus driver Aslam Khan told APP that the number of washrooms are not enough and some times there are long queue outside toilets waiting for their turn. "In rain the stinky smell of these toilets turn the situation more ugly for passer-by and those working in the vicinity", a vendor Ismial commented.
He added that most of the toilets were chocked, their flush were out of order and in rain the gutters started overflowing. The spokesman of CDA when contacted said that Chairman CDA has ordered planning wing to develop a feasibility report with local traders bodies on board for requirement of toilets at all public places including bus stops, parks etc.
He said that CDA set up facilities for but people did not show ownership and abuse them, which created troubles for the authority. He maintained that stinky smell is basically due to open defecation. He added that washrooms are established with tax payers money and requested masses to keep them in good condition and use them with sense of responsibility.