Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the local bodies, solid waste management, and other relevant authorities to ensure Karachi remains clean and tidy during Eid ul Azha. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, SMBR Baqaullah Unar, Home Secretary Iqbal Memon, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, provincial secretaries, MD SSWMB Imtiaz Shah, Municipal Commissioner KMC, Pak Army and Navy representatives, CEOs Cantonments, Chief MET Dr. Sarfraz, and Director KE Haris Siddiqui attended the meeting.
According to MD SSWMB Imtiaz Shah, during Eid ul Azha in 2023, approximately 113,000 tons of residual waste and municipal solid waste were generated in Karachi, which were efficiently disposed of.
This year, it is estimated that Karachi will generate 154,482 tons of offal and garbage. A total of 99 collection points has been set up in 246 union committees across the city. As per SSWMB figures, District Central is expected to generate 31,100 tons of offals and garbage, followed by East with 27,050 tons, Korangi with 24,285 tons, South with 20,303 tons, Keamari with 18,349 tons, Malir with 16,481 tons, and West with 16,481 tons. SSWMB has initiated training sessions for all designated staff at each collection point and established complaint cells/control rooms at the Head Office and in all districts of Karachi Division, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Larkano.
The complaint numbers of SSWMB Head office and district offices are published on various media platforms for public convenience. The CM instructed SSWMB to ensure fumigation spray at all notified collection points at the closing time of each day to control the spread of infectious diseases and bad odors, in collaboration with KMC.
He emphasized the importance of sprinkling lime powder at each collection point once operations are closed for the day. SSWMB will coordinate with allied agencies, including cantonment boards – Faisal, Malir, Clifton, Karachi, Korangi Creek, Manora, and Port Qasim, and provide coordination and assistance for offal operations. Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi imposed a complete ban for five days from June 16, 2024, to June 20, 2024, against the illegal activity of tearing offals by scavengers to obtain tripe and mesentery from offals, upon the request of SSWMB. Regarding the upcoming monsoon season, Naqvi informed that there were 310 flash/choking points in the city, including 149 in District Kiamari, 71 in West, 29 in Malir, 22 in Central, 20 in South, 12 in East, and seven in Korangi. Furthermore, there are 207 low-lying areas in the city, including 56 in the South district, 38 in East, 32 in Malir, 26 in Keamari, 22 in Central, 17 in West, and 16 in Korangi. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab informed the CM that a contingency plan had been enforced, and all the choking points in the 45 nullahs of the KMC were being fixed. Cleaning and desilting of the nullahs have already begun, and dewater machines are ready to be installed in low-lying areas in case of heavy downpours.
The chief minister directed the SSWM, KMC, water board, towns of the city, cantonments, and PDMA to develop close coordination and start implementing their respective contingency plans to deal with any eventuality properly and in a timely manner.
