Pakistani expat adds river cleanup to list of volunteer projects
Aiza Kashif patrols a stretch of Chuangxin River in Zhangjiang Town, Pudong, as a “river chief.”
Expats in Shanghai often take an active part in their communities, and Pakistani Aiza Kashif, a volunteer river inspector, is a shining example.
Kashif, 41, is part of a grassroots campaign to improve the environment in Zhangjiang Town in the Pudong New Area. She patrols a stretch of Chuangxin River once or twice a week.
Shanghai launched a “river chiefs” program in 2017 in a bid to upgrade the city’s waterways. Under the plan, leading officials are appointed to take responsibility for cleanup work along waterways in their jurisdictions. They are aided by volunteer inspectors.
Since 2018, more than 100 residents in Zhangjiang have volunteered to help keep local waterways clean and tidy.
Kashif devotes a couple of hours every week to inspect the riverbank.
“I visit many different parts of the river,” she said. “If I see any problems, I take photos and post them on the government’s online management system.”
Kashif said the river was dirty and stinky prior to the launch of the program. Factories and workshops poured chemical waste directly into the river. Sewage and garbage, especially plastic bags, also marred the environment.
Some of Kashif’s photos show the river covered in fallen leaves and deadwood, with plastic bags floating in between.
Initially, her site inspections resulted in many photos having to be taken, but that is changing. Some days, her patrols are more like happy strolls along the river.
“I don’t know how officials work after I report illegal dumping, but I can see that pollution has improved a lot,” she said. “The water seems much cleaner than it was last year.”
The job is far from complete, however. On a recent trip to the river with Kashif, Shanghai Daily saw plastic foam and a milk carton floating on the river. Kashif immediately took pictures to send to the “river chief.”
Aiza Kashif takes a picture during one of her inspections of Chuangxin River.
Kashif sends photographs of local waterway to the authorities as part of the city's cleanup program.
After she graduated from the College of Pharmacy at the University of the Punjab, she went to the United States, where she obtained a license in pharmacy. In 2012, her husband got a job in Shanghai and the family followed him to the city.
Nowadays, Kashif stays at home, taking care of two children and developing plans to open a restaurant specializing in Pakistani food.
“I am a good cook,” she said, citing her specialty as biryani, a mixed rice dish.
Kashif said she’s happy her family supports her business plans and her volunteer work.
“My husband often drives me to the river for my inspections, and my two children sometimes walk with me,” she said.
Over the years, Kashif has done voluntary work at Metro stations, airports and at last year’s first China International Import Expo, where she helped foreigners needing directions. Her local volunteer work began in 2016, when she was named Shanghai’s first foreign anti-drug ambassador.
She became involved after visiting a township service center to fill out the paperwork required of expats. One day while there, she saw a poster seeking “ambassadors” to help in anti-drug promotion.
“It occurred to me that I could do that,” she said.
Kashif said she saw high school students damaged by drug use during her stay in the US and that experience had stayed in her mind. Recruitment for the anti-drug program opened a door of opportunity.
The application form was in Chinese, which she can’t read or write. So, she turned to a Chinese dictionary and sought help from others. Her education background made her stand out among applicants.
Her contribution to the anti-drug crusade was to make a mini-film in 2016. She was both screenwriter and actress.
It tells the story of a punk girl who is a promising musician but falls into the trap of drug abuse. It causes her great suffering, but her music teacher helps her get back on track. The girl is portrayed in the film by Huang Yiling, another anti-drug ambassador, while Kashif plays the role of her music teacher.
The movie was first aired at a rock concert in June 2016, receiving positive feedback.
“The atmosphere at the concert was great,” Kashif said. “We accomplished our goal of spreading the message.”
To honor her and her family’s contribution to local voluntary work, the Kashifs were named one of the 10 “Most Beautiful Families” in Pudong in 2018.
“We consider Shanghai our second home,” she said. “We feel it’s our duty to keep the river clean to leave a good environment for future generations.”
