KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah during a meeting instructed the local bodies, solid waste management, and other relevant authorities to ensure that the city remains clean and tidy during Eidul Azha.

The CM also emphasised the importance of desilting the storm water drains before the start of the monsoon season.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Saeed Ghani, Makhdoom Mahboob, 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 Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) Imtiaz Shah, Municipal Commissioner KMC, Pak Army and Navy representatives, CEOs cantonments, Chief Met department Dr Sarfraz and Director KE Haris Siddiqui.

SSWMB MD Imtiaz Shah while briefing the CM said that last year during Eid ul Azha some 113,000 tonnes of residual waste and municipal solid waste was generated in Karachi, which was efficiently and timely lifted and disposed of in trenches at landfill sites.

This year, the city is expected to generate 96,782 to 154,482 tonnes of offal and garbage, for which 99 collection points have been set up in 246 union committees of the city, the CM was told. As per SSWMB figures, district Central is expected to generate 31,100 tonnes of offal and garbage followed by district East 27050 tons, Korangi 24,285 tonnes, South 20,303, Keamari 18,349 tonnes, Malir 16481 tonnes and district West 16,481 tonnes.

The CM was told that the SSWMB had also prepared a comprehensive plan to execute the grand operation. The SSWMB had started training sessions for all designated staff at each collection point. Complaint cells/control rooms had been established at the head office as well as in all districts of Karachi Division, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana.

The complaint numbers of SSWMB head office and district offices were published on social media, print media and electronic media for ease of the public to approach in case of complaints.

The CM directed the 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 odours/smells, in collaboration with KMC. He added that sprinkling of lime powder must be done at each collection point once after closing of operations on each day.

Mr Shah also directed SSWMB to coordinate with allied agencies, including cantonment boards — Faisal, Malir, Clifton, Karachi, Korangi Creek, Manora, and Port Qasim— and assure them of coordination and assistance for offal operations.

Commissioner Naqvi said that his office, on the request of SSWMB, had imposed a complete ban for five days w.e.f. 16 June 2024 to 20 June 2024 against the illegal activity of tearing offal by scavengers to get tripe and mesentery from it.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2024