Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said the provincial government is strengthening Karachi’s sanitation system and will continue cleanliness operations throughout the year, beyond the one-week campaign launched in District Central.
Inaugurating the Week of Cleanliness campaign, Shah said a clean, green and beautiful Karachi was the vision of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He added that the Sindh government was working continuously to turn that vision into reality.
Addressing the ceremony and speaking to the media, the minister said Karachi’s sanitation situation had visibly improved following the activation of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB). However, he acknowledged that further improvements were needed.
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He said the campaign would focus on timely garbage collection and transportation, better monitoring of sanitation services and improved cleanliness across District Central and other parts of Karachi.
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Shah urged residents to report complaints about garbage collection or negligence to the relevant authorities so officials could take timely action.
He stressed that maintaining cleanliness was a shared responsibility and could not be left entirely to the government or municipal institutions.
The minister encouraged citizens to dispose of waste at designated collection points and cooperate with sanitation teams. He said greater public awareness and stronger coordination among relevant departments were essential to improving civic services.
Commenting on the performance of the SSWMB managing director, Shah said the official was personally supervising various matters. He expressed confidence that further improvements would follow.
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The minister also highlighted the role of sanitation workers and labourers, describing them as essential to keeping Karachi clean.
He said the government was taking steps to address their concerns, ensure salaries were paid on time and guarantee wages in accordance with government-prescribed rates.
Shah added that officers and officials were continuously monitoring sanitation operations. Coordination among the institutions responsible for waste collection and disposal would be strengthened to improve service delivery.
He reiterated that the campaign was not simply a week-long activity but part of a broader commitment to continuous cleanliness operations across Karachi and Sindh.
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Commenting on the political situation, Shah responded to a rally organised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Karachi and its demands for the creation of a new province.
He claimed that Karachi’s Urdu-speaking residents had demonstrated their position by not participating in the rally.
The minister also referred to a resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly opposing the division of the province or the creation of a new administrative unit.
Shah said the priority should be to improve public services, strengthen governance and ensure peace and security across Sindh.
Calls for Peace and Security for Businesses
Reflecting on Karachi’s past security challenges, the minister referred to incidents of extortion, targeted killings, arson and violence.
He said citizens needed assurances of peace and security, enabling them to conduct business and pursue employment without fear.
Shah added that industrialists and the wider business community should be able to operate without facing extortion demands or threats.
He said the public wanted peace, development, better municipal services and improved governance, while the government remained focused on improving Karachi’s civic infrastructure.
The minister reiterated that the success of the cleanliness campaign depended on cooperation between public institutions and residents. He said sanitation conditions across the city would continue to be reviewed, with additional measures introduced wherever necessary.
