KARACHI: The fifth Steering Committee meeting of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) was held, which was presided over by Sindh Minister for Local Government, Housing ad Town Planning Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, who is also Chairman of SSWMB. During the meeting, several important decisions and approvals were made.

The meeting was also attended by Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Mayor Sukkur Barrister Arsalan Islam Sheikh, Mayor Hyderabad Kashif Shoro, Mayor Mirpurkhas Abdul Rauf, Secretary Local Government Sindh Waseem Shamshad Ali, Managing Director SSWMB Tariq Ali Nizamani, Additional Secretary Budget & Expenditure, Additional Commissioner Karachi, as well as the Mayor Shaheed Benazirabad and DC Larkana via video link.

The minutes of the fourth Steering Committee meeting were approved, with all members signing as per the provincial minister’s instructions. The committee was also briefed on the progress regarding directives to finalize the revised budget.

During the meeting, the Minister directed the formation of a sub-committee to develop proposals for creating technical and qualified posts necessary for operating modern Garbage Transfer Stations (GTS). The proposals will be discussed in the next meeting.

The agenda also included reviewing sustainable sanitation models through which the institution will independently cover its operational costs. Various proposals for implementing area-based sanitation fees, linked to the size of residential and commercial units, were discussed.

Sustainable system plans also include recycling waste at modern waste treatment facilities and engineered landfill sites to reduce environmental pollution and generate carbon credits. The Minister has instructed that these proposals be refined with input from the Mayor of Karachi before being presented at the next meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025