I HAVE been staying at a working women hostel in Karachi for more than a year during which I have experienced an indifferent behaviour of the management towards the wellbeing of its residents.

A major part of the hostel is in use of business entities. Even within the small portion reserved for women`s accommodation, almost half is used as the administration section, with just a handful of rooms left for women`s use.

The tenants are scattered allacross the premises, compromising the privacy of the residing women. Similarly, it is also questionable to have the administration section within the hostel, compelling the women hostellers to share their space with male staff. For the management of the hostel, a warden and a hostel boy is more than enough.

For working people, their privacy and comfort is of prime importance.

Therefore, an independent resting place is essential. But, unfortunately, due to the acute shortage of rooms, the residents have to share rooms with two to three individuals.

Furthermore, the hostel has no sitting room, TV lounge, study room, dining room, laundry area, or a place to host any visitor. This confines the residents to their rooms, which is unhealthy, especially during electricity shutdowns. The premises has no backup arrangement for the electricity either.

Thereisaseparate areaofthe hostel reserved for retired women, which has been lying vacant since ages due to exorbitant monthly rents.

The hostel has an electricity connection under the `residential` category, but since it is being used by commercial entities, the overall bill received is worth more than a million, which affects the per-unit cost paid by the hostel residents.

Moreover, the residents suffer water shortageseventhoughtheypaya reasonable monthly rent in addition to separate monthly amount for gas, water and sewerage, maintenance, car parking, etc. During the monsoon season, the residents live in a horrible condition with leaking roofs and standing water.

The disturbing fact is that there appears to be no government department responsible for the scrutiny of hostels built with the support of the governmenton the land donated by the government to encourage women to contribute to the national economic activity.

The authorities concerned should ensure the provision of a safe and secure accommodation for women so that they may have a chance of continuing to focus on their career progression with mental peace.

Atiga Gul Karachi