One group of citizens decided enough was enough in a city where litter-strewn streets and overflowing bins are often met with indifference and resigned shrugs. Known as 5 Mailay Aur Unkay Thailay—or simply 5 Mailay (pronounced Paanch Mailay)—this volunteer-led collective has been challenging the status quo of waste management in Islamabad since 2018, proving that civic responsibility doesn’t need a government contract or a uniform.
The story of 5 Mailay began in August 2018, when five friends—frustrated by the growing piles of trash in their beloved city—decided to get their hands dirty. Armed with garbage bags, gloves, masks, and a relentless sense of purpose, they set out on a mission to clean up the streets, raise awareness, and shift public perception around who is responsible for waste.
Their name, “5 Mailay aur Ukay Thailay,” is both tongue-in-cheek and powerful. “Mailay,” a colloquial term that can carry a derogatory connotation for someone perceived as dirty, was deliberately reclaimed to highlight the prejudice that sees only sanitation workers, or people from marginalized backgrounds, as responsible for handling waste. The name is a statement: if we contribute to the problem, we should all be part of the solution.
Over 2 years, the group conducted 58 safai drives across Islamabad, picking up more than 370 garbage bags worth of litter, amounting to almost 3,000 kilograms of improperly disposed trash. Their efforts stretched from busy commercial hubs like F-10 Markaz and I-8 Markaz to underserved neighbourhoods like the French Colony in F-7 and neglected dumpsites like Kurri Road. Their consistent, self-funded drives caught the attention of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), whose Department of Sanitation partnered with the group to lend machinery and manpower support to larger cleanup operations.
But 5 Mailay is more than just a cleanup crew. Each safari drive doubles as an act of community engagement and advocacy. Whether striking up conversations with passersby, handing out educational materials, or just leading by example, the “Mailay” use every cleanup as a teachable moment. They aim to drive home the message that public spaces belong to all of us and that keeping them clean is a shared responsibility.
The collective is also focused on reshaping how people think about trash, not as a problem to be swept away, but as a mirror reflecting our habits, values, and relationship with our environment. By encouraging people to reduce single-use plastics, sort recyclables, and take ownership of their waste, 5 Mailay wants to foster a culture of accountability beyond aesthetics.
For a time, the momentum slowed. Life got in the way, and the collective took a hiatus from 2021 to 2024. But in late 2024, spurred by the city’s worsening waste management condition and renewed civic energy, 5 Mailay resumed its mission with even greater commitment. With a refreshed outlook and a growing network of volunteers, the group is now looking to expand its volunteer pool, the reach of its drives, and the depth of its advocacy.
The renewed focus in 2025 includes expanding partnerships with local institutions, launching educational initiatives in schools, forming a loyalty program with local cafes and restaurants for their volunteers to receive discounts, and building a robust digital presence to amplify their message. They’re exploring sustainable funding options, including recurring donations and corporate partnerships, to help cover basic expenses like gloves, trash bags, and transportation—essentials that have thus far come out of the volunteers’ pockets.
Crucially, 5 Mailay remains rooted in its founding ethos: self-driven, hyper-local, and radically inclusive. There are no membership fees, titles, or hierarchy—just people who care enough to show up and take action.
And you can be a part of it, too!
5 Mailay hosts safari (cleanup) drives every other Sunday in different parts of Islamabad. Details of each drive are shared ahead of time on their Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp channels. Anyone is welcome to join—no registration or fees are required. Volunteers simply need to show up; all necessary equipment, including gloves and bags, is provided.
In addition to volunteer participation, 5 Mailay seeks other support to help sustain and grow the initiative. This includes assistance with expanding operations, conducting advocacy and outreach in schools, and developing new civic engagement efforts. The collective also welcomes donations, which would help cover the supply costs and allow them to continue organizing regular safai drives across the city. You can reach out to them on their Instagram or Facebook page for more details on how to get involved.
As they move forward into the year, 5 Mailay Aur Unkay Thailay calls on fellow citizens to step up, not just to clean, but to care. They believe that a cleaner, more responsible Islamabad is possible — but only if citizens unite to make it happen. In a world where problems often seem too big to solve, they offer a simple, powerful truth: sometimes, all it takes is a few people, a few bags, and the will to start.
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