Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province, was once known as one of the relatively clean cities in the country. However, the city is now facing new environmental challenges due to accumulated garbage and poor waste management. Rapid population growth, urban expansion, and a lack of public awareness have put the city at serious risk. Meanwhile, concerns about pollution in the Kokcha River are also increasing.
Nawidullah, a resident of Faizabad, says that although garbage bins have recently been placed in different parts of the city, they are too small to meet the needs of residents.
“Recently, garbage bins have been placed in different parts of Faizabad, but they are not enough. They are very small, and after people throw a few pieces of garbage into them, they quickly become full. People then have to throw their waste around the garbage bins. This makes the city dirty and causes bad smells, as well as more flies and mosquitoes,” he says.
Farshid, a 20-year-old resident of Shahr-e Kohna, is also concerned about the environmental situation in Faizabad and has expressed concern about pollution of water sources.
“Wherever we look around Faizabad, we see garbage being thrown, especially along public roads and on the routes students use to go to the university. Garbage is also thrown near the university. We see that some families even throw their waste into the Kokcha River. This harms the environment, pollutes the water, and harms the living creatures in the river,” he says.
Faraidon, another resident of the city, believes the main problem is the imbalance between the growing population and the available facilities. He emphasizes that cooperation between residents and the municipality is necessary to improve the situation.
“In our city, as the population has grown, the problems have also increased. Facilities are limited, and this has led to more garbage and pollution. In my opinion, if the people and the municipality work together, the situation can improve. More garbage bins should be placed in crowded areas, and waste should be collected regularly and on time so that the city does not become dirty,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Sayed Omar, an environmental expert, looks at the issue from a professional perspective and points to several environmental challenges facing Faizabad.
“Poor waste management, the lack of an urban sewage system, water pollution, especially pollution of the Kokcha River, air pollution, dust, the use of low-quality fuel, uncontrolled urban expansion without considering infrastructure, and a lack of green spaces are among the main environmental challenges in Faizabad. In the short term, this situation causes bad smells, an increase in insects, and diseases. In the long term, it can lead to the destruction of ecosystems, pollution of groundwater, and a decline in people’s quality of life. No government system can succeed without public awareness,” he explains.
He warns that the consequences of this situation in the long term could be irreversible.
“The destruction of ecosystems and pollution of groundwater will severely reduce the quality of life in Faizabad. The government should understand that no program will succeed without raising public awareness and encouraging people to participate,” he adds.
In response to these concerns, Faiz-ur-Rahman Ibrahimi, a representative of the Badakhshan Department of Environmental Protection, presents a more positive picture of the environmental situation in Faizabad. Describing the current situation as “relatively good,” he says that the department is making every effort to improve conditions.
“The environmental situation in Faizabad is relatively good, but it has its own problems and challenges because of population growth and the low level of public awareness. The people of Faizabad are relatively cooperative in keeping the city clean. They also participate in awareness campaigns and volunteer activities. Our department has a public awareness section, and we work through seminars, the media, and various programs. We also monitor the environmental situation on a daily basis,” he adds.
It seems that Faizabad is on the edge of an environmental crisis—a crisis caused, on one side, by a shortage of urban infrastructure and, on the other, by urban culture and social responsibility.
Experts believe that without cooperation between the people and the government, as well as the establishment of an effective waste management system, these challenges could have irreversible consequences for the health of residents and the environment in the future.
