Sindh strengthens waste governance with innovative models

Karachi: The Sindh government has stepped up efforts to modernise its sanitation system, reviewing a set of new proposals aimed at expanding efficient and sustainable waste management services across the province.

The proposals were discussed during a high-level meeting of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), chaired by Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah. Senior officials, including the local government secretary, SSWMB managing director and project heads, attended the session, where a detailed roadmap for improving cleanliness infrastructure was presented.

At the heart of the discussion was a plan to extend organised waste collection and disposal services beyond major urban centres such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana and Sukkur, ensuring more uniform sanitation standards across all districts.

Officials outlined three proposed operational frameworks, the Hybrid Model, Hybrid Plus Model and Local Model, designed to introduce flexibility in how sanitation services are managed. Under these approaches, responsibilities could be distributed among municipal bodies, local administrations and other management structures, with an emphasis on strengthening the role of local governments in planning and oversight.

Participants were told that dividing operational responsibilities at the town level could significantly enhance monitoring and service delivery. A centralised digital monitoring system is also being considered to track performance and improve accountability in real time.

The meeting also focused on reducing costs without compromising efficiency. Authorities proposed multi-year operational cycles, such as three-plus-one or four-plus-one year contracts, to ensure continuity while linking extensions to performance benchmarks. Resource allocation, including machinery and workforce, would be tailored to the specific needs of each district to maximise efficiency and financial sustainability.

In parallel, the government is exploring the development of new landfill sites in several districts, including Kashmore-Kandhkot, Larkana, Kot Diji, Nawabshah, Sehwan, Hyderabad, Umerkot and Dhabeji, to ensure environmentally safe waste disposal. Officials added that a number of garbage transfer stations across Sindh are nearing completion and are expected to become operational soon.

The SSWMB managing director informed the meeting that work at the Jam Chakro landfill facility is progressing steadily, with two landfill cells already completed. The project is expected to generate significant environmental and economic benefits, including potential carbon credit revenues.

Addressing participants, the local government minister said improving sanitation and public health remained a top priority for the provincial administration. He directed officials to refine the proposed models further to ensure they are practical and ready for implementation, adding that final decisions would be taken in consultation with the Sindh chief minister.

The minister also ordered strict action against illegal dumping of waste and construction debris, calling for coordinated enforcement with law enforcement agencies. He stressed that stronger regulation, improved monitoring systems and public cooperation would be key to achieving a cleaner and more sustainable Sindh.