Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Tuesday inaugurated the repair and rehabilitation project of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) incineration plant located in Trans Lyari, Mewa Shah, District Keamari.
He said the Mewa Shah area holds great importance as it houses industries, a treatment plant, and a large population, along with a historical graveyard. He termed the rehabilitation of the incineration plant at this sensitive location a significant and long-term initiative whose benefits will reach future generations.
He said that in the past, complaints were received about industrial and medical waste being dumped into drains, and there were even reports of used syringes and blood bags being found on the seashore. Such irresponsible disposal of hazardous waste posed a serious threat not only to the environment but also to public health. Therefore, the KMC decided in 2025 to restore the incineration plant and reactivated it within ten months using modern cyclone technology.
The plant, with a daily capacity of ten tonnes, will ensure the safe disposal of medical and industrial waste. Approximately fifty tonnes of industrial and medical waste are generated daily in the city, making this initiative essential for an effective solution. He added that with the installation of modern technology, the plant will ensure safe disposal of medical waste and provide citizens with a clean and safe environment.
The mayor said the KMC had purchased two high-capacity incinerators from Consumat America in 1995, which were installed and made operational at the Mewa Shah site area in 1998. The plant has now been shifted to modern cyclone technology, significantly reducing smoke and environmental pollution. A modern carbon monoxide dilution system has also been installed to minimize harmful gas emissions and ensure safe discharge.
He announced that all hospitals and relevant industries will be bound to dispose of hazardous medical waste according to prescribed procedures. Strict legal action will be taken against those involved in illegal recycling and the sale of medical waste, while staff will perform their duties under international safety standards.
Barrister Wahab further said that industries and hospitals lacking proper disposal facilities should contact the KMC, and KMC vehicles will collect waste material from their premises. He emphasized that government-level facilities for the safe disposal of medical and industrial waste have been provided, and all institutions must support the administration since air, water, and the environment are shared resources and their protection is a collective responsibility.
He warned that any hospital or factory failing to dispose of waste properly will face strict action. To make the sea environmentally friendly, TP-1 is being reactivated, and the first phase of the 20 MGD pilot project has already been implemented. The process of converting treated water for industrial use has also begun, and TP-1 in Haroonabad will be formally inaugurated in the coming days.
He said development work is continuing across the city without discrimination and that KMC is delivering practical results. A flyover has been constructed in Cattle Colony, while work on the Azimpura flyover is ongoing and will be completed by the KMC. He added that the condition of the Mewa Shah graveyard, once in a deplorable state, has significantly improved, and efforts for the city’s betterment will continue.
