From service to silence: WSSP’s

Withdrawal pushes Shadman Colony into a sanitation emergency THE sudden and unexplained withdrawal of sanitation services by Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), Zone-C, since March 2024 has plunged Shadman Colony (Lakhkarabad), located off Canal Road near University Town, Peshawar, into an alarming civic and public health crisis that continues to worsen with each passing day. For a locality comprising over 100 households — many of whom have been residing here since 1992 — this is not merely an inconvenience, but a complete collapse of essential municipal service delivery that the residents have long depended upon. Prior to March 2024, WSSP Zone-C had been regularly and effectively providing comprehensive sanitation services in the area. These included routine emptying of garbage containers, daily sweeping of Street No. 1 and periodic cleaning and maintenance of drainage lines. The system was functional, structured and responsive, meeting the basic needs of the community without disruption. With the abrupt cessation of these services, the entire sanitation infrastructure has deteriorated rapidly. There is currently no garbage container available in the locality, forcing residents to dispose of waste in open spaces. Food waste and household refuse quickly decompose, creating foul odors and attracting pests, rodents and stray animals — conditions that are entirely unacceptable in a populated residential area. The state of the drainage system is equally alarming. In the absence of regular cleaning, drain lines are now completely choked, leading to stagnant wastewater accumulating in streets. Street No. 1, once maintained through routine sweeping, now presents a visibly filthy and neglected environment. The cumulative effect is a hazardous living condition that poses serious risks to public health, hygiene and environmental safety for every resident. Despite exhausting all available administrative channels — including formal representations to the Chief Secret