KARACHI: The Sindh government on Tuesday announced plans to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals or groups involved in illegal burning garbage on city roads, a practice that contributes to severe air pollution and health hazards.
The decision was made during a meeting of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) chaired by Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, SSWMB Managing Director Tariq Ali Nizamani, town chairmen, and other officials also attended the meeting.
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Mayor Wahab, who also chairs the SSWMB, noted that most incidents of garbage burning are carried out by private waste collectors. “They either set garbage on fire or dump it into drains, often to save transportation costs or recover valuables,” he said. He suggested that financial penalties should also be imposed to discourage such environmentally damaging practices.
The SSWMB decided that FIRs will be filed against anyone found burning garbage, regardless of their organisational affiliation. Minister Nasir Hussain Shah emphasised that companies awarded waste management contracts must have adequate manpower and machinery, and vehicles should operate round-the-clock with GPS trackers. He also called for stronger coordination between union councils (UCs) and town administrations to enforce compliance effectively.
Data from SSWMB shows that Karachi produces more than 14,800 tonnes of municipal and solid waste daily, but only 10,000–12,000 tonnes reach landfill sites. Private garbage collectors operating in housing societies often sort out valuables and burn or dump the remaining refuse illegally.
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Some local officials, while supporting the move, expressed concerns over its practicality, citing coordination challenges among town administrations, SSWMB, and the police. They warned that without improved collaboration, enforcement of FIRs may face obstacles.
The government’s move is part of a broader effort to address urban waste management issues and reduce environmental pollution in Pakistan’s largest city.