Karachi: Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) will launch its first biogas plant in Karachi to provide clean and affordable cooking fuel to low-income households on 15th of this month. This was stated by Managing Director SSWMB, Tariq Ali Nizamani, at a seminar on sustainable waste management organised by the FPCCI Standing Committee on SDGs and the National Forum for Environment and Health at Federation House in Karachi.
According to Radio Pakistan, the biogas facility, established at Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, will convert seven tonnes of livestock waste daily into biogas, sufficient for supply to around 70 to 80 nearby households at a subsidised rate of two thousand rupees per month. The initiative aims to offer a cost-effective alternative to conventional fuel amid ongoing gas shortages and rising LPG prices in the country.
Tariq Ali Nizamani said the project reflects the potential of Karachi’s organic waste to be utilised as a sustainable energy source instead of being dumped untreated into the sea. He said, in its second phase, the plant will also generate electricity to help address lighting issues at Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim. He said SSWMB also plans to set up another biogas plant at Karachi’s Cattle Colony to further expand green energy production and help curb environmental and marine pollution.
Highlighting the scale of waste generation in the metropolis, he said Karachi produces more than 14,800 tonnes of garbage daily, of which around 42 percent comprises organic waste suitable for biogas and compost production. To ensure cleaner roads and responsible waste handling, he said the Board has sought provincial approval to impose fines up to twenty thousand rupees on waste-transport vehicles found littering due to unsafe practices. Penalties for anti-littering violations by citizens are also under consideration.
He informed the seminar that 13,000 workers and over 2,300 vehicles are currently operational under SSWMB in Karachi, while modern technology is being used to monitor the entire waste collection and disposal system in real time. A helpline, call centre, and mobile application are also functional round-the-clock to facilitate public complaints.
Speakers from FPCCI, NFEH, Dawoodi Bohra community and other civic organisations emphasised the need for stronger government support, efficient medical waste disposal and enhanced public awareness for sustainable cleanliness in the city. Later, participants visited the biogas plant site to review progress ahead of its inauguration.