The fifth Steering Committee meeting of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) was held under the chairmanship of Syed Nasir Hussain Shah Minister Sindh Local Government and Chairman of the SSWMB. During the meeting, several important decisions and approvals were made.
The meeting was 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. Other officers were also present.
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.
The meeting approved the relocation of SSWMB offices to new premises. Approval was also granted to increase the salaries of contract employees. The Minister emphasized that all private companies and organizations must ensure payment of the minimum wage as mandated by the Sindh Government.
In his concluding remarks, the Minister for Local Government directed all districts to further strengthen the monitoring system of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board and ensure maximum relief for the public.