KARACHI, May 23: Karachi Municipal Corporation has entered into an agreement with a Turkish firm on bringing about an improvement in the solid waste management system of the city, a statement said on Wednesday.

It recalled that a memorandum of understanding in this regard was signed by the two sides recently in Islamabad.

“Under the MoU, the Turkish firm will provide technical assistance to KMC for the preparation of a feasibility study towards the objective of an overall improvement in the solid waste management system in Karachi. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his visiting Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan also witnessed the signing ceremony.”According to the press release, the feasibility would highlight technical issues, including matters relating to institutional and system weaknesses that need to be addressed for a more robust and effective solid waste management system. “The feasibility would bring out matters relating to financial viability and sustainable operations other than the entire system strengthening,” it added.

“Based on the findings of the feasibility study and under the technical assistance so arranged, the required legal and other documents will be prepared for hiring of services required for the execution of the proposed solutions through international competitive bidding,” said the statement.

It said that the Sindh government would facilitate and monitor the progress attained under the MoU towards the objective of improving the solid waste management system in Karachi while the KMC would facilitate, assist and help in obtaining required sanctions, permission and approval for the company in connection with the smooth implementation and completion of the project.

“KMC along with the five district municipal corporations handles solid waste management of approximately 10,000 metric tonnes a day, generated by the metropolis of over 18 million people,” the statement quoted KMC administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed as saying.

He said that although the KMC continued to make efforts for the system’s improvement, this sector was facing multiple challenges given the size and complexity of the portfolio. The Sindh government and KMC had recognised the need for a clean environment and were keen to upgrade the quality of municipal services, he added.