KHYBER – The venue of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Long March, which saw thousands of workers converge from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was left in a state of severe pollution after the rally concluded, raising serious questions about civic sense and organizational discipline.
As soon as the march ended and the workers dispersed, the ground was covered with tons of garbage including plastic bottles, disposable food boxes, wrappers, party flags, banners, and tea cups. Despite the presence of dustbins at several points, most of the waste was thrown openly on the ground.
The problem was particularly visible in the central venues in Peshawar and at the entry points of Khyber district where PTI convoys had camped overnight. In Khyber, which is known for its scenic valleys and natural environment, local residents complained that roadsides, fields and streams were littered with plastic waste.
Shopkeepers in Landi Kotal and Jamrud said that workers had left behind leftover food and plastic bags, which were later seen floating in water channels and being eaten by stray animals. A resident of Khyber said, “This is our land, our environment is our identity. When people come for politics, they should also respect the cleanliness of the area.
Environmental activists say that thousands of single-use plastic items were used during the march without any proper waste management plan by the organizers. The plastic waste, if not cleaned in time, could block drainage systems and cause long-term damage to agricultural land in Khyber.
An official of the Water and Sanitation Services Company Peshawar (WSSP) said on condition of anonymity that his team had to work for hours after the rally to clear the venue. “We collected several truckloads of trash. Most of it was disposable plates and bottles. There was no cooperation from the rally organizers to manage waste,” he said. Critics say the scene reflected a lack of discipline and civic training within the party workers. While PTI often talks about building a clean and green Pakistan under its previous Clean and Green Pakistan campaign, the ground reality at its own events tells a different story.
“Discipline is not just about attending a rally on time, it is also about how you leave the place after the rally,” said a social worker in Peshawar. The district administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has now urged all political parties to ensure they have a proper waste disposal plan during public gatherings and to educate their workers not to litter public places.
Till the filing of this report, no official statement had been issued by the PTI leadership regarding the pollution left behind after the march.
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