KARACHI: The Korangi industrial area will be made South Asia’s first green industrial zone, according to Provincial Minister for Environment Shaikh Muhammad Afzal.
Speaking at a meeting at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), he urged industrialists to comply with environmental regulations as world organisations have stepped up pressure on Pakistan to make the industry pollution-free.
Afzal said that coastal life is being destroyed rapidly due to dumping of industrial waste and release of untreated water into sea and urged all industries to comply with rules and regulations.
He said that work is continuing on several water treatment plants planned by the government and expressed hope they would be executed soon. He also urged the government to cooperate with KATI in order to make Korangi green and improve its infrastructure.
KATI Chairman Syed Johar Ali Qandhari said that the association would soon nominate two representatives for the government’s environmental committee. He requested the Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to take into account views of the industry and try to help resolve problems before issuing an environment protection order (EPO).
Qandhari also suggested that the government should assist small industries in setting up effluent treatment plants.
Former KATI chairman Gulzar Firoz said that despite the transport sector being responsible for large amounts of noise and industrial pollution, the government is still blaming the industry for pollution.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2011.
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