Surging plastic pollution poses environmental crisis
While speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Amir Alamgir, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Karachi, said that plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most serious environmental challenges in recent decades. "Plastic products are inexpensive and widely available, which encourages excessive use without regard for their harmful effects," he added.
Dr Alamgir stressed the health hazards posed by plastic use, particularly during the summer. "Storing drinking water in plastic bottles and refrigerating them can release microplastics that enter the human body," he said. "These microscopic particles can severely damage the respiratory and digestive systems, blood vessels, and other vital organs. Prolonged exposure may even lead to fatal diseases such as cancer."
He also warned against the widespread practice of waste burning, particularly plastic waste, which releases toxic gases into the atmosphere. "These gases are absorbed into the lungs and bloodstream, affecting human health in ways that are still being understood - but we know they pose grave risks," he said.
Karachi, one of the most densely populated cities in the country, is at the centre of Pakistan's environmental crisis. The city generates an estimated 14,712 tons of solid waste daily, of which only 50 per cent is transported to landfill sites. The remainder is discarded in open spaces, water bodies, and streets, polluting both air and water sources.
According to Dr Alamgir, 60 per cent of Karachi's solid waste is composed of plastic, much of which ends up in the Arabian Sea, endangering marine life. "If the current trend continues, Karachi could face irreversible ecological damage within the next 15 years," he warned.
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Over 400 employees at Sindh Govt Children's Hospital unpaid for 4 months
Listen to article Over 400 employees at the Sindh Government Children's Hospital in Karachi, operated under a public-private partnership, have reportedly gone unpaid for the past four months. Staff members have warned the administration that if their salaries are not disbursed by August, they will launch protest demonstrations. Speaking to The Express Tribune, hospital administrators confirmed the delay in salary payments. They assured that pending dues would be cleared next month, adding that the hospital's budget is currently in process and expected to be released within the coming week. The Sindh Government Children's Hospital was inaugurated in 2004 by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Initially managed by the provincial health department, the hospital began as a 50-bed facility built on 16 acres of land. Despite its promising start, the hospital has long struggled with poor infrastructure, limited services, and frequent staff protests. In 2013, a new building was constructed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), making it a unique facility among pediatric hospitals in the city. At the time, the provincial government allocated Rs100 million annually, allowing the hospital to offer extended services into the night. Also Read: Punjab records highest death toll in monsoon-related incidents, NDMA confirms However, in October 2016, management of the hospital was handed over to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) under a public-private partnership agreement. The annual budget was subsequently increased to Rs440 million. According to the health department, the hospital will continue to operate under this arrangement until October 2026, after which its future will be reviewed. Since the transition to private management, the hospital has faced repeated delays in salary disbursements, leading to at least ten staff strikes and multiple temporary shutdowns. Between 2004 and 2025, the hospital has failed to conduct any major pediatric surgeries and primarily treats common childhood illnesses. Currently, over 300 staff members work under the NGO, while 65 employees—including the Medical Superintendent—remain under the provincial health department's jurisdiction. Rabia, a parent visiting the facility, told reporters that children with complex medical conditions are routinely referred to the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) or Civil Hospital, as the Children's Hospital lacks the surgical infrastructure to treat complicated pediatric cases.
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