For the first time in Pakistan in 1992, Abaseen introduced the concept of Hospital Waste Incineration. The idea was very well initiated by the competent team of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and in 1996 Abaseen got the contract for supply of Two Hospital Waste Incineration Plants manufactured by M/s Consutech Systems LLC., USA.

In 1998 Abaseen commissioned the Incinerator Plants which have a daily incineration capacity of 10 tons / unit, incinerating the waste at temperatures of 800 Degrees Celsius and the resultant gases at 1200 Degrees Celsius. These plants are capable of incinerating waste and converting it into ash which is safe for normal disposal at a designated landfill site. Abaseen continued to operate the units under warranty and handed over the plants to the KMC for operation.

In year 2001 the KMC, now CDGK decided to privatize this project. Abaseen won the contract for the Collection, Transportation and Disposal of Hospital and Pharmaceutical Waste under a Joint Venture agreement with the City District Government of Karachi. Abaseen now caters to almost 150 Healthcare Units all across Karachi and several Pharmaceutical Companies for Incineration of Biological Wastes and Expired Medicines and Raw Materials etc., from leading Pharmaceutical Industries in Pakistan.

This project has greatly helped the people of Karachi by nearly eradicating the unthinkable practice of reusing disposed syringes and drips thus bringing down to some extent the cases of infectious diseases such as AIDS, Hepatitis etc., including the use of such needles by drug addicts.

At time of takeover by Abaseen, KMC was providing service to about 30 Healthcare units. Abaseen with its professional, dedicated team slowly created awareness amongst the Clinics and Hospitals and now an estimated no. of 150 Healthcare Units are being regularly provided waste collection and disposal service, strictly in accordance to government regulations, eliminating the chances of any kind of misuse or spillage. Our team is continuing to bring in more Clinics and Hospitals to avail this service which is available at a nominal cost. We strongly believe that as more and more institutions register for this service, lesser will be the chances of misuse of this hospital waste, which if not properly disposed, can cause serious degree of infections.

Abaseen entered into a JV contract with the City District Government Karachi in 2001 to collect, transport and dispose off hazardous hospital and pharmaceutical waste through incineration. This project has considerably reduced the reuse of syringes, drips and other sharps from hospitals and also the dumping of hospital waste with municipal waste.

Currently Abaseen caters to over 150 Healthcare units and several major pharmaceutical industries for destruction of their hazardous waste through incineration.

This section is specially prepared to give a broad picture to people about this project and provide answers to some frequently asked questions.

What is Hospital Waste?

Hospital waste can be considered as the type of waste that is generated from Health Care units such as Hospitals, Clinics or Pathological Laboratories. This type of waste can include used syringes, drips, sharps etc., along with contaminated wastes such as cotton, blood or blood products, waste from laboratories, waste from the operation theatres, labor rooms, autopsy, discarded biological waste, expired medicines etc.

Why is Healthcare Waste Dangerous?

Healthcare waste comprises of elements which can contain mild to severe infectious diseases which can spread, not only by direct contact but also by the exposure to the environment. Moreover it can contain sharps and needles which can be reused by some heartless people for financial gains by selling them in the local market after so-called recycling – lethal for human use.

How does this CDGK-Abaseen JV project help?

This Joint Venture between CDGK and Abaseen is directed towards providing waste disposal services at nominal costs to Healthcare Units for the disposal of this infectious waste under controlled conditions, ensuring that the waste is properly disposed off thus eliminating the chances of any health risks.

What is the process?

This project involves the collection of waste in sealed bags from Hospitals, Clinics and Pathological Waste and transportation in closed vehicles to the Incinerator Plants for disposal. Once the waste reaches the Incineration Plants Site, it is immediately arranged for Incineration by a team of workers duly equipped with necessary protective clothing to avoid any kind of physical contact. The waste is not stored at the Incineration Site, and is immediately incinerated or burnt at temperatures of 800 Degrees Celsius – the resultant gases treated at 1200 Degrees Celsius to avoid any harmful air emissions.

What are the charges?

The charges are nominal and based on the bed capacity of a Health Care Unit. The charges have been kept at a very low level owing to the fact that this is a service to humanity and not a money-making project. The rate sheet effective July 2005 can be obtained. Payments for full 1 year are allowed a 10% discount on the total amount.

How to register?

Simply fill the registration form and prepare a cheque in favor of “City District Government of Karachi”. Immediately inform Abaseen or CDGK and the service will be started immediately.