KARACHI: The city administration is preparing to tackle the challenge of disposing of hundreds of thousands of animal offal and waste expected to be generated during the three days of Eidul Azha as civic bodies have set up 98 collection points and dug seven large trenches on city outskirts with a 24/7 operational helpline.

The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) claimed to have launched an extensive sanitation operation across the city, aimed at ensuring swift and hygienic disposal of animal waste following sacrifices.

Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor barrister Murtaza Wahab on Thursday inaugurated the newly enhanced services of the S SWMB helpline 1128, which will operate 24/7 with the addition of 32 dedicated phone lines and integration with a mobile app to ensure prompt complaint resolution.

`The initiative is a significant step towards effective waste management during Eidul Azha, a time when the city sees a sharp increase in waste due to sacrificial animals` remains,` he said while appreciating the proactive approach of the SSWMB and emphasised that the timely resolution of public complaints is a top priority of the city administration.

Among preparation of the SSWMB, a key highlight of this year`s plan includes the excavation of seven large trenches at designated landfill sites Jam Chakro, Gond Pass and Sharafi Goth to bury animal remains.

An SSWMB statement said that to streamline the operation, 98 collection points had been established across the city, supported by a workforce of over 16,000 personnel and 9,774 vehicles, which will be mobilised around the clock during the fiveday Eid operation.

These measures were finalised under the supervision of SSWMB managing director Tariq Ali Nizamani and further reinforced during a meeting chaired by the city mayor.

In addition to animal waste, the SSWMB is also set to handle approximately 25,000 tonnes of bhallo mitti (soil), which is brought in for animal sacrifice areas, the statement said.

`In a strategic shift from previous years, this soil will not be transported to landfill sites,` it added. `Instead, it will be stored at garbage transfer stations (GTS) and later distributed free of cost to Town Municipal Committees (TMCs) for use in city`s parks and green belts. This move is expected to result in cost savings of Rs180 million in landfill transportation.

To support the public in proper disposal practices, biodegradable bags are being distributed in various neighbourhoods, the statement noted.

`Vehicles used in the operation will be colour-coded for clarity: red tarpaulins for animal waste and green tarpaulins for general rubbish. Moreover, an automated monitoring system will reject overloaded vehicles at landfill sites, ensuring compliance with waste limits,` it said.

Monitoring will also be handled through a central management system (CMS), which tracks vehicle movements and ensures timely collection. `To facilitate public complaints and quick resolution, the 1128 helpline will operate 24/7, with trained staff available to convey issues to relevant officers,` the statement added.