Residents across Karachi are struggling with a persistent foul odour from decomposing animal offal and sacrificial waste that remained uncollected more than a week after Eid ul-Adha, according to local media reports published on Friday, 5 May. Animal remains continue to lie in the open at garbage collection points across multiple districts, posing public health risks and causing widespread distress among the city's population.

Scale of the Problem

Complaints have emerged from across District Central, District West, District East, District South, and Korangi, where decomposing sacrificial waste has permeated neighbourhoods. Residents report symptoms including headaches, nausea, and general unease directly linked to the smell. In several localities, waste was removed only after considerable delay — and even then, the sites were not properly cleaned or treated with lime to neutralise the odour.

What Residents Are Saying

A resident of Orangi Town, speaking to Dawn, described the extent of the problem: 'Forget about stepping outside to enjoy fresh air. Even sitting at the dining table inside the house has become difficult. Last night, when I started eating dinner, I thought the curry had gone bad because of the smell. When I mentioned it to my sister and other family members, they told me the smell wasn't coming from the food. It was coming from outside. There are three garbage dumping points within about 500 metres of our house, and the stench from them continues day and night.'

Residents near Numaish similarly noted that sites from which waste had been removed were not cleaned properly, leaving a persistent stench. The situation is described as worsening day by day.

Pir Colony and the SSWMB Failure

Conditions have been particularly severe in Pir Colony, where the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) established a dedicated dumping point for sacrificial animals on the main road. According to residents, SSWMB staff were absent for the first two days of Eid, leaving animal remains and garbage strewn throughout the area. Waste collection vehicles arrived only on the third day, and routine household garbage collection has since stalled, resulting in compounding waste piles, The Express Tribune reported.

Soldier Bazaar and Garden Areas Also Hit

In Soldier Bazaar and Garden, residents stated that waste collection employees worked only during the first two days of Eid before stopping altogether, leaving large mounds of garbage unattended in both localities. The absence of sustained municipal response has drawn sharp criticism from residents who say authorities have failed to meet even basic post-Eid sanitation obligations.

Public Health Concerns

Animal remains lying on roads and open spaces across Karachi represent a potential public health hazard beyond the immediate discomfort of the smell. Decomposing organic waste can attract disease vectors and contaminate surrounding environments if left unaddressed. With temperatures rising in the city, health experts have long warned that delays in post-Eid waste clearance can escalate quickly into broader sanitation crises. Authorities have yet to issue a public statement on a remediation timeline.