Poor waste management worsens Karachi’s air pollution and urban flooding

KARACHI: Poor waste management is aggravating Karachi’s air pollution and flooding, as uncollected garbage clogs drains and open waste burning releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

According to the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative’s (PAQI) 2025 report, cleaner air could increase the average Karachi resident’s life expectancy by an estimated 2.7 years.

The city met the World Health Organisation’s daily air quality guideline on just three days in 2024.

The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) estimates that Karachi generates more than 14,800 tonnes of waste daily, including over 3,000 tonnes in District Central.

Around 42% of the waste is organic, while the city accounts for an estimated 25% of Pakistan’s recyclable plastic waste.

PAQI’s 2025 emissions inventory attributes 7% of Karachi’s PM2.5 emissions to open waste burning, highlighting the need for improved waste collection and disposal systems.