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ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP):Flying trash from heavy vehicles has become a serious threat to health and road safety in the twin cities. Uncovered loads and waste thrown from moving buses send dust, plastic and sharp debris into the air, putting motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians at daily risk while weak enforcement allows the problem to continue unchecked.
Maryam Shah, a government officer, experienced this while returning home from her office on IJP Road.
“A public transport bus bearing registration TAG-877 was moving ahead of my car,” she told APP. “Garbage kept coming out of its main door. Empty plastic bottles and chip wrappers hit my windscreen repeatedly. I had to slow down suddenly because my view was disturbed.”
Motorcyclists say they are the worst affected. Coming from the I-9 side, another government employee riding a motorcycle said this is a daily occurrence.
“Public transport drops passengers on the road and, while moving, the conductor or cleaner throws passengers’ garbage directly onto the street,” he told APP. “That waste flies and hits our faces and clothes. It makes riding dangerous and very uncomfortable.”
Elderly citizens feel even more exposed. Muhammad Yousaf, travelling in an old FX vehicle, said there is little protection.
“Our vehicle has no air conditioning or heater,” he said. “Dust and garbage fall directly on us. It is disturbing and unpleasant.”
Heavy vehicles are adding another serious risk. On the Islamabad Expressway, Bilal Ahmed, a private company employee, was forced to stop his motorcycle.
“A fast-moving empty truck was dropping very fine sand and small stones,” he said. “The sharp particles hit my eyes so badly that I could not continue driving. I had to stop just to let the truck pass.”
Another commuter, Mudassar, said both public transport and goods trucks have turned roads into moving hazards.
“These vehicles spread filth everywhere,” he said. “They damage the environment and harm people. Flying garbage and gravel scrape our faces every day, but no one seems to stop them.”
Health experts warn that the impact is not only visible but also dangerous. Dr Komal, a specialist in respiratory diseases, said the number of patients affected by pollution is rising.
“More patients are coming in with breathing problems,” she told APP. “Dust, flying waste, and fine particles from roads can cause asthma, allergies, chest infections, and long-term lung problems. Children, elderly people, and motorcyclists are at higher risk.”
Environmental experts say roadside waste and uncovered loads also worsen pollution and harm Islamabad’s image as a clean capital.
Citizens believe the problem is not a lack of laws, but weak enforcement. They have demanded:
Strict action against throwing garbage from moving vehicles
Covered loads for all goods and building-material trucks
Closed garbage bins inside public transport buses
Regular monitoring and heavy fines for violators
Until firm action is taken, residents fear Islamabad will continue to suffer, its environment deteriorating and citizens paying the price with unhealthy lungs, injured eyes, and faces scraped by flying trash and gravel.
In many developed countries, strict laws and regulations are enforced to keep roads clean and safe. For example, in the United States, vehicles caught littering face heavy fines, impounding, and points on their licenses. In Japan and European countries, trucks are required to cover all loads, and public transport vehicles must follow strict waste disposal guidelines. Surveillance cameras, on-the-spot penalties, and zero-tolerance policies have made roads safer and cleaner, showing the importance of strict enforcement in protecting public health and the environment.
As one commuter summed it up simply,
“A city admired globally for its beauty and cleanliness should not put its own people at risk from flying garbage and debris.”/APP-rzr-mkz