Rawalpindi — Residents and commuters are voicing strong anger over what they call a dangerous and unhygienic waste transport system. Garbage trucks operated by Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) are allegedly spilling filthy, bacteria-laden water and trash along major city roads, creating a daily hazard for public health and road safety.
The problem stems from poor loading practices at urban waste depots, where refuse is piled high without proper covering. As the trucks make their way from locations like Committee Chowk Sunday Bazaar and Liaquat Bagh to the central dumping site, wastewater and debris spill freely onto Murree Road, Rawal Road, Rashid Minhas Road, and other busy routes.
During morning rush hours, the problem worsens. On Wednesday at 9am, an overloaded truck leaking diesel and toxic liquid caused four motorcyclists to skid and crash, two of them carrying female passengers. All were injured, with one victim suffering severe leg damage. Eyewitnesses rushed to help before ambulances arrived.
Citizen Action Committee Chairman Malik Zaheer Awan accused RWMC workers of deliberately adding water to waste piles to increase truck weights, allegedly boosting performance figures and payments. He warned that this practice spreads dangerous diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, and skin ailments.
“These trucks pass through crowded intersections, and the stench is unbearable. People in cars can shut their windows, but motorcyclists and pedestrians have no defence,” Awan said.
Residents near depots at Liaquat Bagh and Committee Chowk say the constant stench, litter, and toxic leaks have made life intolerable. Despite three years of complaints, they claim no concrete action has been taken.
District Coordination Committee Chairman, MNA Engineer Qamarul Islam, has pledged to stop transporting wet waste, improve disposal procedures, and secure funding for better waste management.
RWMC denies systemic faults, stating all vehicles are in working order, but daily commuters insist the problem is widespread and persistent. Shopkeepers along Murree Road and Talian Shahan say they’ve grown used to the smell — but not the risk — as dangerous leaks continue unchecked.