‘Pakistan's waste management crisis: A threat to public health'


IV Report

KARACHI: A seminar organised at the University of Karachi (KU) has emphasised that a collective failure of communities and government functionaries concerned in addressing the management issues of solid waste, including medical and hospital refusals, was causing diseases to the population.

In his special address at the seminar, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Mahmood Iraqi noted that inadequate management of solid waste was contributing not only to environmental adversities and aesthetics in major cities across Pakistan but also serving as disease breeding source.

Despite passage of time, the country does not have a proper system for disposing of medical waste in most hospitals in Pakistan, he said, stressing adequate and scientific disposal system for hospital waste, which is often found in regular trash dumps, posing significant dangers to human health.

Experts from academic and managerial backgrounds attended the "Sustainable Solid Waste Management" seminar, organised by KU's Chemical Engineering Department.

Waqar Hussain Phulpoto, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency senior director, revealed that over 200 Karachi hospitals generate substantial medical waste, requiring updates and training on waste management as per the Sepa Act 2014.

Muhammad Khalid, Sindh Solid Waste Board advisor, highlighted Karachi's daily 11-12 thousand tonnes of waste, presenting a significant challenge. He emphasised citizen awareness and waste management's potential to improve Pakistan's energy status and economy.

Lucky Cement's Production Manager, Ali Imran Ansari, stressed eliminating airborne waste, sharing his factory's efforts in generating electricity through solar and wind power.

NED University's Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail, urged learning from other countries to solve waste management issues.

Former Pakistan Engineering Council Chairperson, Engineer Rukhsana Zuberi, advocated collective solutions, saying stakeholders must work together.

KU Chemical Engineering Department Chairperson, Professor Dr Shagufta Ishtiaq, informed that department students are researching solid waste management, likely yielding positive results. 

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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