CM promises continuity of cleanliness drive.

KARACHI -- The month-long 'Clean My Karachi' campaign launched by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah ended on Monday.

During the campaign, 979,941 tonnes of garbage had been lifted from the metropolis, the CM said, adding that the effort would continue in the shape of a shared responsibility to be made with all stakeholders.

He was chairing a meeting to review the progress of the garbage-lifting work assigned to deputy commissioners here at the CM House.

Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah briefed the chief minister about the 'successful' campaign.

The briefing said with a population of at least 23 million, Karachi produces 14,000 to 16,000 tonnes of solid waste on a daily basis. There are 20-plus agencies, including cantonment boards, Port Qasim Authority, Pakistan Railways, district municipal corporations (DMCs) Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSMWB), etc, trying to manage the city's waste.

The primary responsibility of solid waste management lies with the local councils in the administrative jurisdiction of the provincial government.

Says during the past one month, 979,941 tonnes of garbage lifted from the metropolis

The chief minister said that the total outlay of DMCs in 2013-14 was Rs5.74 billion, which was increased to Rs13.79bn. However, solid waste management remained sub-optimal. Therefore, to augment the performance, the government had established the SSWMB and later entered a seven-year management contract with Chinese companies in four districts, at a cost of $52 million.

Before the establishment of SSWMB, the total solid waste lifted and disposed at landfill sites was not more than 5,000 tonnes per day. After the board's establishment, the figure reached 13,000 tonnes per day. However, the backlog still continued to accumulate, especially in the districts where SSWMB did not operate. These districts are Central, Korangi and West.

During the month-long drive, 62 temporary garbage transfer stations (GTS) were established. Until Oct 20, the estimated solid waste collected at these GTSs was 370,504 tonnes.

Spelling out the way forward to keep the city clean, the chief minister has given long- and short-term plans.

New landfill...