Highlighting the severity of Karachi’s mounting waste problem, a senior official from the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) revealed that the city generates over 14,800 tonnes of solid and municipal waste daily, surpassing the levels produced by regional megacities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Dhaka.
Speaking at a seminar on modern and sustainable urban waste management solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SSWMB Managing Director Tariq Ali Nizamani emphasized that District Central alone produces more than 3,000 tonnes per day, the highest among Karachi’s seven districts.
He noted that approximately 42 percent of the city’s waste is organic material, which could be effectively converted into biogas or compost if properly segregated and processed. Additionally, Karachi accounts for around 25 percent of Pakistan’s total recyclable plastic waste, highlighting the city’s critical role in national recycling and waste management efforts.
The remarks underscored the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices, including segregation at source, efficient collection systems, and the adoption of technologies for recycling and renewable energy generation, to address the city’s growing environmental and public health challenges.
