KARACHI: A major milestone in advancing waste management infrastructure within Karachi’s largest industrial zone has been achieved through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) and the North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI).
The MoU was formalized under the leadership of Karachi’s Mayor, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, with Managing Director of SSWMB Tariq Ali Nizamani and NKATI President Faisal Moiz Khan signing the agreement. The partnership aims to develop a streamlined and effective approach to collecting and disposing of municipal solid waste and non-hazardous industrial waste generated by businesses in the North Karachi Industrial Area.
During the signing ceremony, Mayor Wahab emphasized that this agreement signifies a crucial step toward modernizing waste management services in Karachi’s premier industrial zone. He outlined plans for enhanced waste collection routines, including regular factory pickups, sweeping and cleaning of industrial zones, mechanical street cleaning, washing services, and water bowser provisions as needed.
The initiative’s primary goal is to elevate cleanliness, safeguard public health, and promote environmental sustainability within North Karachi’s industrial sector through a systematic waste management framework.
MD Tariq Ali Nizamani explained that SSWMB is establishing a dedicated operational unit specifically for industrial waste, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and continuity in waste collection. He pointed out that all industrial waste will be directly transported to Jam Chakro landfill, emphasizing that unregulated waste disposal practices are damaging both the environment and groundwater sources.
Under the terms of the MoU, waste collection and bin cleaning will be scheduled on a daily or alternate-day basis, based on operational agreements to prevent waste buildup. Main road waste will be collected daily. Both parties will collaborate to prevent unauthorized waste collection or dumping, with SSWMB holding exclusive authority over waste management activities in the area.
Industrial units will be billed monthly for waste management services through SSWMB’s online payment portal, with NKATI providing necessary data for accurate billing and smooth transactions.Initially, waste services will be provided free of charge for the first two months, after which standard service charges will be applied.
This agreement is viewed as a strategic move to enhance Karachi’s environmental management and industrial zone cleanliness, reflecting a renewed focus on sustainable urban governance and ecological responsibility.
