Speakers at a consultative meeting called for all the concerned stakeholders' coordinated efforts to control air pollution which they termed a silent killer.
They expressed their views at an event titled 'Air pollution in Sindh: Challenges and a way forward,' organised by Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) at its head office, here.
Director General (DG) SEPA Naeem Mughal briefed participants on the major urban and rural pollution challenges in Sindh. He spoke on dumping of industrial solid waste into Malir and Lyari rills, burning of domestic and commercial solid waste, vehicular air emissions, pollution due to brick kilns, cotton ginning mills, etc.
Environmental consultant Shahid Lutfi recommended revisiting the air quality standards. In future, we will have yellow and other lines buses; therefore, it is obligatory to have air quality standards which can minimise the harm, he suggested. He said Sindh EPA also acts as an advisory body so it should have proper guidelines for other concerned departments too, to safeguard the environmental degradation.
Gardazi from an NGO, Shehri, urged for more effective and coordinated liaison between all the stakeholders from government and others. He said Sindh EPA can't act solely to safeguard environment. He urged that all the government departments have to join hands to protect an environment.
"Air pollution is a silent killer, it kills slowly but it does," he said on magnitude of implications. He further said that air pollution is one of the primary sources which contribute loss of human life in Pakistan, as according to a study, 1 million under-5 infants suffer badly due to it. He also urged to revisit the emissions standards and further told that government should have zero tolerance policy towards non-compliance of an environmental law.
Dr Salman, director Sindh Health Commission, spoke on crossed infection disease occurred at hospitals due to air and other forms of pollution.
Saqib, an environmental consultant, discussed potential hazards of coal ash and regulation of plantation drives in city. He urged to declare air pollution emergency in province.