Karachi: Earth Day was celebrated in Karachi’s historic Saddar area through a collaborative initiative of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) and the Dawoodi Bohra Community, highlighting collective responsibility towards environmental protection and sustainable waste management practices.
The awareness program aimed to promote the importance of a clean and green environment while emphasizing the shared role and responsibilities of citizens, including shopkeepers, cart vendors, traders, and residents, in maintaining cleanliness and practicing responsible waste management on a daily basis.
Children from the Bohra community actively participated in the event and presented creative activities, environmental messages, and awareness demonstrations reflecting the spirit of Earth Day while encouraging community ownership for environmental preservation.
Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director SSWMB Tariq Ali Nizamani said that environmental protection is not the responsibility of institutions alone; it requires active participation from every citizen. Sustainable waste management begins from households, markets, and streets. Through community partnerships and awareness initiatives, he added, SSWMB aims to build a culture where cleanliness becomes a collective social behavior.
Representative of the Bohra community, Ali Asghar, appreciated the joint initiative and stated that their community strongly believes in environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. Programs like this, he said, create awareness at the grassroots level and encourage people, particularly the younger generation, to adopt environmentally responsible lifestyles for a healthier future.
Consultant Social Mobilization at SSWMB, Kashif Siddiqui, highlighted the importance of citizen engagement and social mobilization, saying, “Real environmental change becomes possible when communities themselves become partners in development. Social mobilization empowers citizens to take ownership of cleanliness, reduce waste generation, and actively contribute towards building a greener and healthier city.”
Assistant Commissioner Saddar Ghazanfar Perdakh, environmental advocate Naeem Qureshi from the National Forum for Environment & Health, waste composting specialist Aamir Hazari, and other notable participants also addressed the gathering and emphasized coordinated efforts between government institutions and communities for sustainable environmental management.
The event concluded with a symbolic plantation drive led by MD SSWMB Tariq Ali Nizamani along the Saddar street, where saplings were planted to promote urban greenery and reinforce the message that environmental protection begins with small yet consistent actions by citizens.
