hile we were at the market, my sister-in-law suddenly became ill with severe abdominal pain and cramps. Despite being a large market, there were no public toilets available. We asked around, and people directed us to a wedding hall, but the guards refused to let us use their public toilets. Eventually, we had to stop an auto-rickshaw and head back home,” recalls Najma Maheshwari.

Najma Maheshwari has many personal stories about the unavailability of public toilets. From Karachi to Badin city, she has faced significant discomfort due to the lack of accessible public toilets.

Karachi is Pakistan’s largest metropolitan city. According to the official results of the seventh digital census, the population of Karachi Division exceeds 20.3 million, with women making up half of this number.

In the bustling heart of Karachi’s markets, a grim reality unfolds. Lack of public toilets forces women to make uncomfortable choices that can have serious health consequences. According to WaterAid Pakistan, 67 million people in the country lack access to decent toilets.

Najma Maheshwari, who is from the old Lyari area of Karachi, makes shampoos and other products at home, which requires frequent trips to the market. She recalls an incident where she was invited to a meeting at an organisation. The person she was meeting was two hours late, and when she requested to use the public toilets, the guard refused, saying the facilities were for staff only.

In Karachi’s downtown areas, such as Jodia Bazaar, Bolan Market, Cloth Market, Lee Market, Khajoor Market, Machhi Miani Market and other places like the Empress Market, Bohri Bazaar in Saddar, Malir Ghanchi Market, Landhi Babar Market, Korangi 2.5 Market, Liaquat Market in Lalu Khet and Haideri Market, there are no public toilets available, especially for women. These markets are frequented by women shopping for daily necessities, food items, clothing and more. Most women in Karachi rely on these markets for their shopping needs.

Virsa Pirzado, a working woman and student, mentions that whenever she goes shopping, her family reminds her to use the toilet before leaving the house. She usually visits the market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays because grocery items are more reasonably priced. However, there are no public toilets in these markets and the issue has received little attention. “If someone has an urgent need, they are often forced to go home, cutting short their shopping,” she says.

Marvi Kalhoro, a young lawyer, echoes these concerns about the lack of public toilets in the markets. Where there are a few, the conditions are so poor that proper sanitation is lacking, and sometimes even water is unavailable. She shares that, in emergencies, she uses a nearby mosque’s toilet.

Geeta is a street vendor, who sells dried fruits in front of the Empress Market. She arrives at 11am and sells fruits there until 9pm. She explains that she needs to use the public toilets at least three times a day. Each time she has to pay Rs 20. This facility is provided by a nearby mosque, where she has to share the public toilets with men. Unfortunately, she has no other option available.

The monthly challenge women face worsens the situation. The advocate notes that there is no bin available for her to discard her used sanitary napkins. She is left with no choice but to wrap it in a plastic bag and discard it outside. Najma Maheshwari faces similar problems. If not changed frequently, women face hygiene and health issues. Most women are forced to plan their outdoor trips accordingly, depending on whether appropriate toilet and waste bin facilities would be available or not.

Virsa Pirzado says she prefers to take leave during her period due to several issues, including the difficulty of disposing used sanitary napkins. Owing to lack of accessible and hygienic toilets, the situation makes her immensely uncomfortable, if she is outdoors.

Some women mention that when they need to go to the market, they drink less water. In such situations, especially during heatwaves, their health can deteriorate significantly.

In the rapidly developing metropolitan areas, shopping malls have public toilets but in markets where the lower- or lower-middle-class prefer to shop, it is hard to come across any.

In the bustling heart of Karachi’s markets, a grim reality unfolds. Lack of public toilets forces women to make uncomfortable choices that can have serious health consequences.

Salma Karim Memon, a supervisor of lady health workers, says that when they visit homes and ask to use toilets, they are looked at as though they have asked for something unusual. This response to a basic need embarrasses them.

While public transportation in Karachi has improved, public toilets have been neglected. The Green Line Bus Service has 20 stops, but public toilets are available at only a few stations. The newly launched Red Bus Service and Women’s Pink Bus Service have no public toilets at their stops.

During a hearing of a petition against the lack of public toilets, it was revealed that Karachi lacks public toilets at 182 graveyards, 33 markets, 42 roads, 970 bus stops and 133 hospitals.

Recreational spots in Karachi also have the same problem. Virsa Pirzado says that she often studies at Frere Hall, which has no public toilet facilities for either men or women.

The Citizen Police Liaison Committee aimed to address this issue by constructing 1,000 public toilets, prioritising markets. However, only about 30 were built and many are now non-functional. NGOs have also tried to tackle the problem but faced shutdowns due to funding issues.

Muhammad Touheed, an expert from Urban Resource Centre, explains that women are frequently out of their homes for education, work and daily shopping. “However, public toilets are either unavailable or have such poor hygiene that they are unusable,” he says.

He notes that while large malls do have public toilets, they are often difficult to find. Similarly, he says while food centres have public toilets, no one visits them without making a purchase first.

Tauheed further mentions that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has drafted a document detailing proposed locations for public toilets. However, it remains unclear when these plans will be put into action.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is primarily responsible for constructing public toilets in Karachi. Mayor Murtaza Wahab acknowledges two problems: the lack of public toilets and poor hygiene. He adds that except for Pakistan nowhere else in the world are signs found reading: ‘No urinating.’

The KMC has decided to reactivate public toilets in large parks, such as Safari Park, Karachi Zoo, Bin Qasim Park, and Bagh-i-Jinnah. They are also working on installing public toilets at bus stops on major roads to provide facilities for travellers.

The mayor notes that building plans are approved by the Building Control Authority, but often, the constructed building does not match the approved plan, with basements meant for parking being converted into shops.

Karachi also has six cantonment boards managing various areas, but none have built public toilets in lower- and lower-middle-class areas. For instance, at the Lucky Star location in Saddar, there was a public toilet but it was later demolished. Shops and kiosks took its place.

This correspondent sent emails to cantonment boards seeking their response over the issue, but no response was received till the filing of the report.

Chairman of the Raah-i-Raast Trust, Aga Syed Atta-u-Allah Shah, approached the Sindh High Court with a plea to declare that public toilets and toilet user rights are fundamental human rights. Adequate number of functional public toilets with sustainable sanitation are crucial for the health, dignity, and self-esteem of the public, including women and children. Proper maintenance of these facilities also promotes a hygienic environment and enhances the nation’s image.

The Sindh High Court’s ruling states:

A corporation, municipal committee, or town committee may, and if required by the government, shall provide and maintain a sufficient number of public toilets for the separate use of each gender at appropriate places, ensuring they are kept in proper order and cleanliness.

The primary mandate of these committees is twofold: first, to diligently oversee the restoration and maintenance of public lavatories; and second, to specifically allocate public lavatories for women across public spaces and government premises.

These committees must ensure that these essential facilities remain operational, accessible without any financial burden (free of charge), unobstructed, and impeccably maintained.

These committees are tasked with formulating a forward-looking strategy for the efficient administration of these public lavatories, possibly drawing inspiration from public-private partnerships.

Despite this judgment on May 17, 2024, there has been little progress, and many metropolitan areas still lack public toilets.

The writer is a freelance journalist and researcher. Her X handle: @FehmidaRiaz