Work under the Garbage Clean-up and Disposal Scheme for Karachi was supposed to begin by now, as an agreement was reached between Sindh government and Chinese firm but it has still not started
Changyi Kangjie Sanitation Group is likely to be delayed for some time. Sindh Solid Waste Management Board Managing Director Dr AD Sanjani told APP that the scheme was faced with a hitch related to payment of custom duty, which is delaying its scheduled take off at the two thickly populated districts East and South of the metropolis.
“Arrival of gadgets mainly comprising mechanised lifting, sweeping, washing and loading vehicles pre-requisite for the task has hit with snag at the customs department,” he said.
“A 30 per cent of custom duty has been imposed on these vehicles while according to rules and regulations, the charges in this particular context has to be no more than five per cent,” the senior government official said.
Regretting delay in take off of the work as per schedule, Dr Sanjani said other provinces in the country have also entered into such schemes with private foreign companies and there had been instances when no duty was charged on transportation of needed machines and gadgets including vehicles.
Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), a provincial government agency nominated as a partner in the scheme signed with the Chinese private company, is assigned with the job to monitor, supervise and facilitate the work ensuring that contract standards are maintained.
The SSWMB chief said the Chinese company will provide door-step facility, which will be free of cost for the communities and that dust bins and garbage containers will also be placed at different locations.
Mentioning that lane and road cleanliness besides garbage collection and removal is also part of the scheme, he said it may be gradually extended to other areas once concurrence to the proposal is received from other districts.
As per the agreement, around 200 Chinese workers along with local employees of the concerned civic agencies will realise the job and relevant equipment and machinery being brought from China is to make the exercise fully operational.
Sindh government, during the recent visit of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) in Beijing, has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to produce electricity from garbage in Karachi.
