OUR housing society is located close to a landfill that has been receiving trash from various parts of Karachi for the last three years. The stench emanating from the site is unbearable, particularly when travelling along the adjacent road.

This route connectsthe area to Sharea Faisal and is unavoidable for many commuters.

More alarming than the odour, however, is the practice of burning trash at the landfill. While this may not pose a significant issue during summer, the shift in wind direction during winter months, especially in November, causes the smoke to engulf nearby housing societies, including Defence View, Mehmoodabad and Akhtar Colony.

The resulting air pollution makes it difficult for even healthy individuals to breathe, let alone those who are elderly, children, or suffering from asthma or allergies.

In my own family, my grandmother, who has chronic lung issues, has been hospitalised each winter for the last three years. The smell of burning plastic permeates the air, violating our fundamental right tobreathe clean air.

In 2021, the authorities were informed about this issue, and they responded efficiently, but their efficiency lasted just that year`s winter season. No long-term measures have ever been implemented, and the residents are now left without areliable way to report the problem or seek redress. The relevant authorities should take a decisive action to resolve the issue.

Addressing this matter would be a significant relief for the affected communities, and ensure cleaner, safer air for all.

Atikah Tariq Karachi