Chief Coordinator and Spokesman of Karachi Industrial Forum (KIF), Muhammad Jawed Bilwani has urged the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to order establishment of Combined Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in all the seven industrial zones of Karachi. In a letter to the Prime Minister, he drew his attention towards need to establish CETPs in all the seven industrial zones of Karachi for treatment of industrial wastewater and effluents which might cause damages to marine life and hence necessitates treatment to ensure compliance amid strict global environmental regulations.
He noticed:
(1) In the wake of stringent implementation of WTO regulations in terms of social and environmental compliances, increasing industrialisation, urbanisation and other commercial activities it is necessary to treat hazardous wastewater before discharging. It is difficult for industrial units to create and operate individual wastewater/Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) because of lack of space in premises and unaffordability by 40 percent small industries to bear the operational cost of said ETP. In such a scenario, the concept to establish CETP was evolved globally to treat effluent by means of collective efforts mainly for cluster of industrial units. The main objective of CETP is to reduce treatment cost for industrial/individual units while protecting the environment and to achieve economical waste treatment.
(2) Environment standards are also integrated as part of provisions relating to World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements and compliance thereof. Pakistan is signatory to WTO agreements and therefore it is dire need to establish CETPs in industrial zones to protect and preserve the environment and also to project the soft image of Pakistan abroad worldwide as WTO arrangement conforming country.
(3) Karachi is the largest metropolitan city and industrial hub of Pakistan having more than 15,000 large medium and small industries in seven industrial zones. The industries of Karachi maintain highest export share, highest foreign exchange earnings and generates around 54 percent revenue in shape of direct taxes for the national exchequer. These industries also provide highest employment to 1.5 million Labour Force directly and another 1.5 million indirectly through allied sectors/ vending workers.
(4) The Federal Government through PIDC prepared First PC-I in year 2005. The PC-I were again prepared by Osmani & Company (Pvt) Ltd, in 2009 and 2016. The latest PC-I of 2016 was estimated to an amount of 11.39 billion and has been submitted to the Government of Pakistan. It was proposed that 50 percent cost of the CETPs for Industrial Zones of Karachi shall be borne by Federal Government and remaining 50 percent by Provincial Government of Sindh.
(5) Establishment of CETPs will inculcate more confidence in industrialists for further investment and creation of 20 to 25 percent new industries on vacant plots in all industrial zones. Individual ETPs have high operational cost while Combined ETPs will save Foreign Exchange. CETPs establishment will also lead to enhancement in exports and more employment opportunities. Its ultimate benefit shall also be passed on in the growth of Fisheries & Marine sector exports.
(6) The most of other countries after trying individual treatment plants have come to a conclusion that CETP is the only practical solution for compliance and treatment of effluent. Similar example has been created in Surat Industrial Area, India where a cluster of 150 industries have been connected with CETP and they have also setup combined supply of steam through centralized boiler. They sell steam, treat effluent and also sell some treated water back to industries. This model is worth evaluating to put in place in Pakistan as well as it would be very cost effective and environment friendly.
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