KARACHI: While criticising opposition parties, City Mayor Murtaza Wahab said on Sunday that 81,525 tonnes of offal had been transported to landfill sites and disposed of over the past five days.

Speaking at a press conference, the mayor lashed out at Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leaders over what he described as baseless criticism, saying they were engaged in collecting animal hides.

Playing videos of opposition leaders at the conference, he said that while JI was critical on one hand, its own local government chairmen in Gulshan and New Karachi Towns were praising the the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board’s (SSWMB) performance.

Referring to JI chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, the mayor said that he held a press conference on Eid’s first day and claimed that the solid waste management system had collapsed.

“When the work is completed, they say that it was done because of them. What concerns me is how he was able to conclude, on the morning of Eid itself, that the offal collection system was in disarray. His own statement acknowledged that JI had collected a record number of animal hides. He himself was occupied with the hide collection campaign, while his own town chairmen were congratulating the SSWMB, saying that the offal removal operation had been carried out efficiently”.

He urged opposition parties to set aside divisive politics and work for the city instead.

He praised SSWMB, elected representatives and sanitary workers for performing their duties in intense heat in the metropolis.

Providing details of the operation conducted over the past five days, the mayor said that a total of 169,961 tonnes of offal and waste were transported to landfill sites at Jam Chakro, Gond Pass, and GTS Sharafi Goth. Of this, 81,525 tonnes comprised offal, while 88,436 tonnes consisted of general waste and animal excrement.

The mayor further said that 99 collection points were established across the metropolis, and 23,415 sanitary workers participated in the operation. He added that 9,326 machinery units and 341 large dumpers were deployed to support the municipal teams.

He said smaller vehicles collected offal from streets and neighbourhoods, brought it to collection points, from there dumpers transported it to landfill sites, while fumigation was also carried out.

He also claimed that 90 per cent of complaints received through the helpline number and mobile app had been resolved.

Regarding the fat mafia operating in the metropolis, the mayor informed the media that the police had arrested at least 14 suspects, while 40 FIRs had been registered over violations of Section 144.

He also announced that Pakistan’s first industrial water park would be constructed, and development projects worth Rs68 billion would be completed in the city by December 31 this year.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2026