Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered the acceleration of the World Bank-backed Solid Waste Emergency and Efficiency Project (SWEEP), instructing officials to address existing delays and close performance gaps in the major initiative to modernise the city’s refuse management system.
Presiding over a review meeting at the CM House today, the chief minister emphasised that the project is critical for transforming Karachi into a cleaner and more climate-resilient urban centre. The meeting was attended by key officials including Local Government Minister Nasir Shah and Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab.
Mr Shah stated that the core objective of the joint Sindh Government and World Bank scheme is to reduce Karachi’s carbon footprint and meet environmental quality standards. He highlighted that the project aims to improve the livelihoods of waste pickers and enhance safety at dumpsites.
‘Integrated solid waste management is essential for public health, environmental protection and climate resilience,’ the chief minister said, directing the project team to ensure timely completion and strict adherence to environmental safeguards.
The SWEEP initiative focuses on developing critical infrastructure, including modern garbage transfer stations (GTS) and an engineered sanitary landfill site (LFS). The transfer stations are intended to improve operational efficiency and reduce health risks, while the landfill will provide environmentally compliant disposal for residual waste.
Progress on the project’s two main components was reviewed. Under Package 1, construction of four garbage transfer stations is underway, with the Sharafi Goth site having achieved over 52 per cent physical progress. Completion of several facilities is anticipated by August 2026.
Under Package 2, development of the 485-acre Jam Chakro Landfill Site is approximately 41 per cent complete. The facility, designed to handle up to 7,000 tonnes of waste daily, includes the construction of leachate tanks, gas wells, and reception areas and has an estimated lifespan of 6.5 years.
The chief minister noted that SWEEP aligns with Pakistan’s Vision 2025, which prioritises curbing urban pollution. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing an end-to-end, integrated solid waste management system to create a sustainable and liveable environment for the city”s residents.