Mayor claims Eid cleanup success, JI cries foul

Administration reports removal of nearly 170k tonnes of waste, offal; opposition questions operation's effectiveness

KARACHI:

A massive post-Eidul Azha cleanup operation in the city has triggered a fresh political confrontation, with Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab claiming record-breaking waste collection and sanitation performance, while Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) dismissed the exercise as inadequate and accused the city administration of failing to address the metropolis's chronic civic problems.

Addressing a press conference on the Eid sanitation campaign, the mayor said authorities had remained on the ground throughout the operation, alongside officials of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), elected representatives and sanitation workers.

Praising the efforts of sanitation staff who worked in extreme temperatures, Wahab said the cleanup drive continued for five days, from the Bohra community's Eid celebrations through the fourth day of Eid observed by the Ahl-e-Hadith community.

According to official figures, a total of 169,961 tonnes of offal and waste were transported to landfill sites at Jam Chakro, Gond Pass and the Sharafi Goth garbage transfer station. Of this, 81,525 tonnes comprised sacrificial animal remains, while 88,436 tonnes consisted of garbage and animal waste.

The mayor said all vehicles participating in the operation were monitored through a centralised tracking system. Authorities collected 9,293 tonnes of offal on the first day of Eid, 27,750 tonnes on the second day, 35,508 tonnes on the third day and more than 8,968 tonnes on the fourth day.

He said 99 collection points had been established across Karachi's towns, while 9,326 pieces of additional machinery and equipment, including 341 large dumpers, were deployed for the operation. More than 23,400 sanitation workers participated in the campaign.

Wahab said citizens were provided access to a 24-hour helpline and mobile application for complaints and service requests. Of the 1,330 complaints received during the operation, around 90 per cent were addressed, he added.

The mayor rejected criticism from opposition parties, particularly JI and MQM-P, saying political rivals had continued to criticise the operation while remaining engaged in their own activities during Eid.

"Instead of holding press conferences and indulging in criticism, all stakeholders should work together for the city," he said, adding that partisan politics often hindered efforts to improve municipal services.

Referring to remarks made by JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Eid day, Wahab questioned how conclusions about the operation's failure could have been drawn before the cleanup process had fully unfolded. Wahab claimed this year's operation had outperformed previous years.

However, JI's elected union committee chairmen strongly disputed the mayor's assessment, accusing the city administration of attempting to conceal poor performance through political rhetoric and publicity.

In a joint statement, the party said the residents had continued to report complaints regarding uncollected offal, garbage and unhygienic conditions throughout the Eid holidays. It noted that images and reports showing piles of waste in different parts of the city remained visible on television channels and social media platforms until the fourth day of Eid.

"If the arrangements were truly exemplary, why did residents across the city continue to complain?" the statement asked.

JI argued that Karachi's problems extend far beyond the Eid period, pointing to persistent issues including garbage accumulation, deteriorating roads, sewerage failures and water shortages.

The party said citizens were no longer interested in official claims or publicity campaigns and instead expected tangible improvements in municipal services. It accused the Sindh government and local government institutions of failing to resolve basic urban issues, resulting in growing public frustration.

The statement further criticised the mayor's remarks about welfare activities, saying public service initiatives undertaken through charitable organisations should not be ridiculed or politicised.