KARACHI:
All sectors must comply with the environmental laws. In addition, the government is taking action to address environmental issues in the province on a priority base, said Muhammad Hassan Iqbal (Sindh Additional Chief Secretary of Environment and Climate Change).
Iqbal spoke to Korangi Association of Trade and Industry members on Monday and stated that Pakistan is facing many obstacles in its path to smooth environmental improvement. “We are trying to make full use of modern technology to eliminate environmental pollution” he added.
“Policy formulation will be done on a priority basis to steer innovation in environmental and industrial development and address the related issues.”
Earlier, KATI President Salman Aslam stated that industrialists wanted to prioritise adoption of world-class environmental standards however it was difficult due to procedural and legal hurdles from the government’s side.
He said that his association was willing to cooperate with the environment department in order to implement environmental laws across the board. “If the environmental departments provided facilities to the industrialists, they would take all possible steps to ensure compliance with laws in the industries,” said KATI President.
Zubair Chhaya (Korangi Industrial Trading Estate CEO) demanded that the Environmental Protection Agency establish help desks in all industrial organizations. “Karachi needs more than five combined effluent treatment plants,” he said.
“If the industrial activities in Karachi have more governmental issues than in other cities of the country, then the environment department must fulfill the responsibility and focus on providing facilities in Karachi.” KATI Standing Committee on Environment Chairman Saleem uz Zaman stressed the need for amendments to the laws.
“Industrialists want to implement environmental policies but it is difficult to do so without amendments,” he added. Zaman said that any obstacles preventing the completion of the effluent treatment facility in Karachi should be removed immediately and that the development work should be accelerated.
Zaman suggested that a technical commission be formed with representation from the city’s industrial zones to help formulate the policy in consultation with all stakeholders.
“The department should be proactive so that it can carry out its environmental duties in the best possible way,” he added. “The institutions have to work together for the betterment of the environment.” “Scientific research is required to eliminate economic and environmental problems of the society,” said Zaman
