Sindh Approves Rs. 12bn Conditional Grant For Waste Management

The Sindh Cabinet’s Finance Committee conditionally approved a Rs. 12 billion out-of-budget grant for the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) to improve waste collection services across major cities in the province

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jul, 2025) The Sindh Cabinet’s Finance Committee conditionally approved a Rs. 12 billion out-of-budget grant for the Sindh Solid Waste Management board (SSWMB) to improve waste collection services across major cities in the province.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Energy and Planning & Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Interior and Law Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, said a news release on Thursday.

The meeting, held at the Energy Department, reviewed SSWMB’s budget request for the fiscal year 2024–25.

Committee members, in consultation with provincial ministers, directed the SSWMB to resolve all legal and financial concerns raised by the Finance Secretary before the funds are released.

A key decision taken at the meeting was to introduce Razor Readers in all garbage collection vehicles. This technology will enable accurate measurement of waste transported, ensuring that contractors are paid strictly based on the actual weight of garbage.

The initiative aims to curb fund misuse and enhance transparency.

The committee also ordered a reassessment of existing contracts with waste management contractors, noting that Sindh’s rates were higher than in other regions. All contracts are to be revised and renewed within 3 to 6 months.

Minister Nasir Shah stressed the need for efficient and transparent waste management operations, particularly in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Larkana, where the SSWMB currently serves an estimated 24 million people. He called for timely payments to contractors and a system that ensures uninterrupted cleanliness services.

The committee was informed that the SSWMB’s total expenditure has surged to Rs. 43 billion, with an expected revenue of Rs. 10 billion from ongoing projects under finalization.

The meeting was attended by Planning and Development Chairman Najam Shah, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, the Local Government Secretary, and senior officials.