Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan Memorial Trust (AHKMT)
Poor situation of sanitation make the life of residents more miserable they are going to be poorest. The sanitation facilities are available to only about 42% of the total population of 220 million including 65% in urban areas and 30% in rural settlements with the expectation of few big cities sewerage is almost nonexistent causing serious public health problems. Solid waste generation in Pakistan ranges between 0.283 to 0.612 kg/capita/day and the waste generation growth rate is 2.4% per year. Solid domestic waste is typically dumped on low-lying land. This land could be used for more productive purposes and potentially valuable recyclable materials are lost.
Changing lifestyles, the increasing use of disposable materials and excessive packaging are all contributing to an increase in the amount of waste being created. Waste management is now a global issue. The problems associated with Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management are complex because of the quantity and diversity of the nature of waste and financial limitations on public waste collection services in large cities. The problem is not only confined to land, it includes air and water as well.
Solid domestic waste is typically in dumped low-lying areas where it is burnt to reduce its volume and lengthen the life span of the dumpsite. However, refuse does not burn well and smoldering dumps produce clouds of smoke that can be seen from miles away, smell bad, and create a breeding ground for flies and rats. The result is unsightly and unhygienic conditions. This land could be used for more productive purposes and potentially valuable recyclable materials are lost. Even citizens are not aware of the relationship between ways of disposing of waste and the resulting environmental and public health problems.
Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan Memorial Trust is a non-profit organization (NGO) working on sanitation and solid waste management in areas where primary waste collection system does not exist because of lack of resources. AHKMT was registered in February 2000 under Trust Act 1882, to spread out development philosophy of renowned and legendary social scientist, Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan (late). The organization works with community contribution which ensures the sustainability of the initiatives undertaken. Before undertaking any project the organization undertakes survey of the area and develops a map to get an idea of the resources that will be utilized. Strong community mobilization efforts of AHKMT ensure success of the project. The organization also conducts open forums in which all the relevant stake holders are invited to participate. The feedback from the participants helps in identifying the gaps that need to be addressed immediately. The organization then develops plan for the area accordingly.
AHKMT is working on 03 different programs of sanitation, solid waste management and shelter. Under Sanitation street Maps are developed and sewerage lines are laid down. Under solid waste management program the e-guard community manages their household waste on self help basis. All line departments are mobilized to facilitate the community. At present AHKMT is working in six cities of Pakistan namely Muzafrabad , mingora ,Mansehra , Sialkot , Rawalpindi ,Gilgit.
Sanitation is a problem throughout the globe. In South Asia, the sanitation improvements have not kept up with population growth: in 2010 the region had about 1,057 million people without improved sanitation, some 30 million more than in 1990.
Solid Waste Management
Municipal solid waste includes house hold waste, waste from commercial enterprises and institutions, street sweeping and also biomedical waste, construction and demolition waste. The large scale anthropogenic activities in society generate large quantities of wastes
The dramatic increase in world’s population has been one of the main reasons for shelter problem. The most populous countries lie in Asia including China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Three of them lie in south Asian region; the consistent increasing population in these regions gave rise to an extreme poverty. Poverty is the main hurdle.
Achievement from 1997 to 2010
There is tremendous contribution of AHKMT in the development of the community where the contribution of the beneficiaries is remarkable. AHKMT has a successful program of Solid Waste in its credit; the program is unique in its kind due to its approach and activities. AHKMT team is not even collecting the solid waste from 2000 household but it is segregated. From the segregated material one part is used to make compost that the farmers are using for crop and vegetables. The remaining second part is source of sustainability of the program. The items like iron, plastic, glass and others are sold and the third part is disposed off properly.