Environmental hazard: Residents protest against toxic effluents

Untreated industrial waste is harmful for human health, crops and cattle

MULTAN: The residents of Muzaffarabad, Shershah, Shujabad and adjacent areas on Saturday staged a demonstration in front of Multan Press Club against discharge of industrial effluents into canals and rivers which they said was harmful for human health, crops and cattle.



The protesters, led by Makhddom Shershah,  carried placards and banners inscribed with their demands. Speaking on the occasion, Shershah said huge discharge of untreated domestic and industrial effluents have turned rivers and canals in Punjab into a dumping pit, causing serious health and environmental hazards. “Multan is considered the second biggest industrial city of Punjab after Faisalabad. It consists of hundreds of factories that responsible for creating both environmental and water pollution,” he said. “These industries include textile, chemical, food processing, pulp and paper, poultry, dairy, plastic, paint, pesticides, leather, tanneries and pharmaceuticals.”

He said the residents of Muzaffarabad, Shershah and Ambala were facing health hazards.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2018.