Citizens appeal to the Prime Minister

Prohibit centuries old dehumanizing and degrading practice of

manual scavenging and entry into sewage gutters.

Dear Prime Minister and Chief Ministers,

Assalam-o-alaikum

As concerned citizens committed to the progress, dignity, and well-being of Pakistan and its people, we respectfully draw your attention to a matter of profound humanitarian and public importance.

Thousands of sanitation workers, across Pakistan, are everyday made to enter raw sewage gutters to clear blockages and remove solidified human excreta with their bare hands. Many die in the process, while others end up acquiring life threatening diseases and injuries – due to toxic gases, disease-laden fluids and the critically confined workspaces. Only in the last 6 months, as reported by the media, 17 workers were reported to have lost their lives while working for major Water & Sewerage Corporations and Authorities across Sindh and Punjab. Countless other deaths in remote towns occur in silence, entirely overlooked by the press.

Globally, the practice of sending workers into sewerage systems for cleaning and desilting has been largely eliminated and replaced by mechanized equipment and modern technologies. Several countries have also enacted legal prohibitions against such practices, recognizing them as incompatible with human dignity and occupational safety.

Pakistan today possesses both the technology and the capacity to adopt safer alternatives. Mechanical sewer-cleaning equipment is readily available including locally manufactured motorcycle mounted equipment. Major utility organizations already operate fleets of mechanized cleaning vehicles capable of performing these tasks without exposing workers to life-threatening risks.

We therefore respectfully request the issuance of an Executive Order, policy directive, or appropriate regulatory measure providing that:

“No worker shall be required or permitted to enter sewage gutters, manholes, drains, or septic tanks for the purpose of cleaning, desilting, or removing blockages. Such activities should be carried out through mechanical means and equipment.”

The adoption of such a measure would protect the lives and dignity of thousands of sanitation workers, align Pakistan with international best practices, and demonstrate our nation’s commitment to human rights, occupational safety, and social justice.

We respectfully urge your kind consideration and decisive action on this important matter.

Respectfully,

Javed Jabbar, Senator (r)

Arif Hasan, Chairperson URC

Jameel Yusuf S.St. , Founder Chief, CPLC

Faisal Edhi, Humanitarian

Nikhat Sattar, Writer, Islamic scholar

Mushtaq Chhapra, Founder, The Citizens Foundation (TCF)

Khayam Husain, CEO, Automobile Corporation of Pakistan

Riyaz Chinoy, Entrepreneur,

Naeem Sadiq, Occupational Health & Safety Engineer

July 17, 2026