Efforts on to find solution, use of solid waste
Karachi mayor had filed a petition in the SHC in which he had maintained that the SSWMB was established under the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board Act, 2014, and was being run by the Sindh government since its establishment.dissolved for failing to perform. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB
A Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) was signed between the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) and the Engro Energy Limited for the feasibility study of a 3,000 tonnes solid waste fuel plant.
Present at the signing ceremony were provincial ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Imtiaz Sheikh, Karachi Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab, MD Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) Zubair Ahmed Chana, CEO Engro Energy Yusuf Siddiqui and Head of Business Development Engro Energy Usman Hassan and media representatives.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister for Local Government, said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has a vision and “we are moving forward according to this vision for a clean and developed city. Today’s agreement is also a manifestation of the same vision.”
He appreciated the SWMB and Engro for joining the provincial government’s efforts to find a sustainable solution to solid waste.
While speaking on the occasion, provincial Energy Minister Imtiaz Sheikh said that work on refuse-derived fuel (RDF) started last year. “We have also signed agreements to generate electricity from waste,” he added. “These accords are part of initiatives for making the city clean and green. We are also working on other such projects to ensure better utilisation of waste by recycling it.”
Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab claimed that Sindh was the first province in Pakistan which has approved a systematic policy for power generation from waste. Under the policy approved by the provincial cabinet, waste can be recycled to generate energy and RDF. Private institutions have also played a role for this purpose.
On this occasion, MD SWMB Zubair Chana said that they were using modern technology to provide better sanitation facilities to Karachiites. “Today’s agreement is part of the same efforts under which solid waste will be recycled and made useful,” he added.
As per the agreement, Engro Energy Limited will use its technical and human resources to complete the project. SSWMB will provide Engro Energy Management access to the Jam Chakro and Gond Pass landfill sites.
“Today’s agreement reflects that Engro Energy is once again working with the government of Sindh on a major project to find a solution to the longstanding waste problem,” said CEO Engro Energy Limited Yusuf Siddiqui.
“In addition, the idea of converting waste into sustainable fuels is in line with Pakistan’s sustainability goals as promised in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and substitution of imported fuels (coal or RLNG) will be supported,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2022.