Curbing marine pollution: Federal govt forms three-member committee

Team asked to suggest solutions for sea contamination

KARACHI: A three-member committee was formed by the federal ministry of ports and shipping to look into marine pollution, during a meeting held at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) head office on Tuesday.

Federal minister for ports and shipping Mir Hasil Bizenjo presided over the meeting, which was attended by federal ports and shipping secretary, port and shipping director-general, KPT chairperson vice-admiral Shafqat Javed and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation chairperson, Port Qasim chairperson and Sindh Government officials. The committee has been directed to submit a report in two weeks, after reviewing progress of Sewerage S3 project, marine pollution issue and suggest solutions for it.

The three-member committee comprises Pakistan Navy Fleet Commander Ariful Hussaini, KPT chairperson and a representative from the Sindh government, who will be handpicked by the provincial government.

"Most of the sewage water is carelessly dumped into the Arabian Sea," Bizenjo said, while addressing the meeting.

According to an official estimate, he said around 500 million gallons of waste water is produced per day by Karachi alone.

One-fifth of the waste-water is coming from industries located in the city, while the rest is domestic or municipal sewerage.

It is a well-known fact that the waste-water that is dumped into the sea is affecting the marine life and fishing activities.

"The committee will forward its findings and decisions will be taken based on them," Bizenjo said, while directing them to report its findings within a fortnight. The minister invited Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to share his input and help formulate recommendations, on which provincial and federal governments can collaborate further.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2016.