Report on AUICK Associate Cities
Faisalabad, Pakistan

Reported by Dr. Rai Qamar-Uz Zaman, Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management, Tehsil Municipal Administration Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Background

Faisalabad is situated 80 miles from Lahore. A centre for textiles, it is described as the “Manchester of Pakistan”. The industrial era began in the city in 1934 with the opening of cotton mills, and today Faisalabad is the second biggest industrial city in Pakistan.

Administration and Revenue

The The city’s current governing system was established in 2001. The city is governed by an elected body of 162 members (Tehsil Council) headed by the Mayor. For 2004, expected revenue is US$20,529,918 and expected expenditure is US$20,512,309.

Main Challenges Facing the City

Solid Waste Management:
1,110 tons of waste is produced daily. At present the city lacks a proper landfill site and has no recycling capacity. There is a shortage of sanitation workers and vehicles for waste collection.

Sewerage and Drainage:
The sewerage situation affects living conditions and health. 60% of households are connected to street sewerage, 30% discharge into open improved drains and 10% have no discharge controls.

Water:
60% of the population now has access to piped water, but 40% still rely on hand and motor pumps. An additional problem is the high salinity of underground water sources.

Environmental Hazards:
Vehicular discharge, untreated industrial waste, unsafe disposal of hospital waste and industries such as textiles and grain mills, are the main sources of pollution in Faisalabad.

Population:
Rapid population growth is a continuing problem which results in poor living conditions for residents. Approximately 30% of Faisalabad citizens are now living in the unplanned slum areas.

Health:
Diseases such as Dysentery, Typhoid and liver diseases could be controlled through the provision of clean water, improved sanitation & waste management, and better health facilitates.

Education:
Enrolment has more than doubled since 1970, but a funding shortage means that facilities, supplies and teachers are often inadequate or of poor quality.

High Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates:
The high rates of IMR and MMR can be attributed to poverty, ignorance and poor health care.

Role and Relationship with AUICK

Faisalabad has sent senior officials to six trainings since 1996. The AUICK trainings have been very fruitful in encouraging a more modern focus on urban issues. In the future we hope to establish a common strategy and develop model approaches that can be replicated in all cities. We hope for the continuous coordination among AUICK trainees and the ongoing monitoring of the results of implementation in participating cities.

Other Information

Several beautifying projects, such as new parks, traffic islands, and tree planting, are now being undertaken. Health care is also being targeted; laboratory facilities are being upgraded and the city is maintaining an adequate supply of resources for the eradication of Malaria, T.B and Polio.