All seven industrial associations of Karachi announced today (Thursday) they would shut down the industries if the notices issued to them by the Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are not withdrawn in 10 days.
Addressing a press conference, Muhammad Jawed Bilwani representative of the All-Karachi Associations of Trade and Industry, said that SEPA is suddenly issuing notices to the industries asking them to set up effluent plants within their own premises. Thus, SEPA is hurting the country's exports by issuing the notices to export-oriented industries as well. It has also sealed some of the factories, he added.
While the federal government is making efforts to enhance exports by granting a Rs 180 billion relief package, he said, SEPA is doing the opposite. SEPA has given six months to the industries to set up the effluent treatment plants, which is impossible, he added.
He said that notices issued by SEPA are against the law as it is a legal requirement to establish the Sindh Environmental Protection Council under the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014, which also made representation to industrialists in the council compulsory. This council will be the competent authority to work out environment protection standards in Sindh and take decisions for environment protection in the province, Bilwani added.
Since the council has not even been formed, it is strange for SEPA to issue notices to the industry, he remarked. That is why the presidents of town and industrial associations are demanding the notices' withdrawal, he said. He said that industrialists would be compelled to shut down their factories if the Sindh government does not resolve the matter of the notices.
He said that while environment protection is not a legal requirement for SEPA, it is also social compliance requirement for the industry because international buyers mainly purchase goods from units which practice social compliance, and effluent treatment is a fundamental requirement for these units. Therefore, the action taken by SEPA will damage the domestic industry, according to Bilwani.
Previously, the matter of a Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) was discussed thoroughly with government officials and after long deliberations it was concluded that the only solution is to have combined effluent treatment plants for Industries in all industrial areas of Karachi, he said. The representatives of all seven trade and industry associations-SITE, Korangi, Federal B Area, North Karachi, SITE, Super Highway, Landhi and Bin Qasim-were present on the occasion.