Minister for Environment and Alternative Energy Sindh, Shaikh Mohammad Afzal has advised industrialists to suggest changes in prevailing environment laws so that they should be incorporated in laws making them more practical. Speaking at a meeting of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) on Monday, he said that the biggest issue before government is who to tackle with environment issues and make the country pollution free.
He said that after 18th Amendment, the Sindh province could draft its own rules The minister said that the present environment law has a clause that every industry which generating waste waters it must have effluent treatment plant. Industries are developed in a way that they have no place to install effluent treatment plant. He advised industrialists to go for combined effluent treatment plant where they do not have enough place to install independent effluent treatment plants
Shaikh Mohammad Afzal advised industrialists to look at poisonous smoke being emitted from chimneys of the industries and make efforts overcome its issue. He informed that a few water treatment plants by the government are in the pipeline and hoped that they would be executed and commissioned soon.
Shaikh Mohammad Afzal said discharging untreated water has already destroyed coastal life and advised industrialists that they should comply with the rules and regulations and ensure not to release untreated water into the sea. He was of the view that industries could double their exports by turning their manufacturing units as environment friendly. He said that people in Pakistan are more concern about their day to day issues due to rising cost of living and they are paying no heed to environment protection and environment issues.
He announced establishment of a four member committee comprising of two members from KATI and two members from his department to look into the industrial environment issues and sort out a solution He declared that Korangi industrial area would be made first green industrial area of the country Chairman, KATI, Syed Johar Ali Qandhari said in his welcome address that KATI would strive hard to make Korangi as first ever environment friendly industrial area. He said that KATI would soon nominate two representatives for government's environment committee.
KATI chief demanded of the SEPA (Sindh Environment Protection Agency) not to issue Environment Protection Order (EPO) until and unless the industry concerned is heard properly and the issue resolved amicably. He said that small industries can not afford setting up effluent treatment plants and the government should set up combined effluent treatment plants in the areas of small industries. He further requested to the minister that those industries wiling to set up treatment plants should be helped and assisted by the government.
He urged the government that in order to turn Korangi Industrial Area which gives Rs 300 million annually as revenue, the government and foreign donors should assist it and make it a model industrial zone in the region. Chairman, KITE Ltd, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan said on this occasion that KITE Ltd initiated the setting up seven dumping areas in KIA but work has been suspended on four to them due to unknown reasons. He asked the minister to intervene and let the work accomplished.
Former Chairman, KATI, Gulzar Firoz said on this occasion the transport sector is the biggest polluter in this country as it is creating noise as well as environmental pollution but the government is running after the industry and always intimidates industrialists despite the fact that they are the job providers to the largest number of people. He urged that government should not be black-mailed in the hands of transporters and carry out a major and effective campaign against them.