Assessment of Municipal Waste Management Practices in the Largest City of Pakistan Using GIS Technique: A Case Study of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Karachi

Khan, Adnan; Iqbal, Haleema; Ali, Syed Haroon

doi:10.21608/jsdses.2025.404337.1050

Assessment of Municipal Waste Management Practices in the Largest City of Pakistan Using GIS Technique: A Case Study of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Karachi

Document Type : scientific research and articles

Authors

¹ department of geology, university of Karachi

² Department of Earth Sciences, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan

10.21608/jsdses.2025.404337.1050

Abstract

Rapidly expanding population of Karachi city has resulted in a number of solid and hazardous waste issues due to unsatisfactory policies, laws, political instability, and ineffective municipal administration. The primary objective of this study was to use geographic information system (GIS) technique for the evaluation of population density, waste generation, collection, and management of municipal solid waste (MSW). Present study revealed that the total volume of waste produced was correlated with rising population densities and improper collection of municipal solid waste from collection points. The MSW in Karachi city is managed through open air burning and waste disposal methods. It is observed that MSW is improperly collected from bins and transported by vehicles to the landfill sites. Small amounts of MSW recycling were carried out by the private sector, who pays off to Afghan waste pickers to transport waste from bins to dumping sites. Due to lack of proper training, workers use to scatter the waste all over the roads and around the bins. It is concluded that the waste is not being managed in a proper way and cutting-edge environment friendly technologies are essential for managing MSW issues, minimizing health risks, and preventing environmental degradation.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Life on Land

References

Abbasi, H.N., Lu, X., Zhao, G. (2015). An overview of Karachi solid waste disposal sites and environs. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 10.

AmbreenAfza A., Sheeba Afsar S and Altaf Hussain Lahori A. Solid waste management practice in Karachi through GIS techniques. Pure and Applied Biology,10(4): 1258-1278.

Chen Wang., Di Liu., Yufei Li., Lu Wang and Wei Gu. (2021). A multidisciplinary perspective on the evolution of municipal waste management through text-mining: A mini-review. Waste Management & Research, 39 (1): 32–42.

Chisanga, A., Daka, S., Simbeye, T. S., Masebe, E., Mulenga, R., Mary, C., & Luse, N. (2024). Assessment of Solid Waste Management Practices in High-Density Residential Townships: A Case Study of Mtendere Township in Lusaka, Zambia. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Sciences, 8(3).

Ghiani G., Manni A., Manni E & Toraldo M. (2014). The impact of an efficient collection sites location on the zoning phase in municipal solid waste management. Waste Manag.34(11): 1949–1956.

Guo, W., Xi, B., Huang, C., Li, J., Tang, Z., Li, W., ... & Wu, W. (2021). Solid waste management in China: Policy and driving factors in (2004–2019). Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 173, 105727.

Hajra Mahmood, 1 Muhammad Moiz Khan2* Urban Solid Waste Management in Karachi Department of International Relations, University of Karachi, Pakistan Department of History, University of Karachi, Pakistan

KARACHI: Gulshan: center of civic life - Newspaper - DAWN.COM

Mansoor Ali and Hasan (2000) (Karachi Plan 1974–85)

Paracha, N. F. (2017). A history of Karachi’s garbage outbreaks. Dawn News: https://www.dawn.com/news/1320851.

Sabir, W., Waheed, S. N., Afzal, A., Umer, S. M., & Rehman, S. (2016). A study of solid waste management in Karachi city. Journal of Education & Social Sciences, 4(2): 151-163.

Sharif, raza. Impact of Teledensity on Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis of South Asian Countries.

Sondh, S., Upadhyay, D. S., Patel, S., & Patel, R. N. (2024). Strategic approach towards sustainability by promoting circular economy-based municipal solid waste management system-A review. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy,37, 101337.

Zaheer, N. (2007). Karachi Master Plan 2020. Pakistan