Over 100 representatives from government agencies, academia and the private sector took part in a workshop in Karachi (20-22 May) to enhance their knowledge and skills in hazardous waste management in Pakistan’s ship recycling industry.
Organized under the joint IMO-ILO SENSREC Decent Work project, the workshop aimed to strengthen compliance with major international conventions - the Hong Kong Convention (HKC), the Basel Convention and relevant ILO conventions – and promote the environmentally sound management, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.
Opening the workshop, key officials including Ms. Alia Shahid, Director General Ports and Shipping, Mr. John Alonso, Programme Manager for SENSREC and Mr. Asif Khan, Secretary General of the Pakistan Ship Breakers Association called for aligning the country’s ship recycling practices with global standards, to protect workers, the environment and the sector’s long-term sustainability.
Technical sessions covered identification, handling, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials, as well as compliance with international frameworks. Experts emphasized the need for strengthened capacity, effective social dialogue and stakeholder cooperation to meet the sector’s complex challenges.
A site visit to ship recycling yards in Gadani, Balochistan allowed participants to observe firsthand the procedures and challenges involved in hazardous waste management. The visit highlighted the real-world application of the challenges in implementing international best practices, as well as areas for further improvement.
Participants and organizers commended the workshop as a vital step towards modernizing Pakistan’s ship recycling sector, in line with upcoming global regulatory requirements.
Aboout SENSEREC
SENSREC is a capacity building project implemented by IMO to support developing countries in implementing the Hong Kong Convention on safe and environmentally sound ship recycling. Launched in September 2023, the SENSREC-DW component focuses on improving Pakistan’s ship recycling standards, governance and stakeholder capacities while promoting decent work and sustainable practices.