EPA classifies most Faisalabad industries as high-risk

Authorities to inspect 441 industrial units in residential areas

FAISALABAD:

More than half of Faisalabad's urban industrial units have been classified as posing a "very high" environmental risk in a multi-dimensional survey conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), prompting authorities to initiate action against industries operating in residential areas.

The survey, carried out as part of a plan to relocate environmentally hazardous industrial units outside the city, identified boiler emissions, untreated industrial effluent and close proximity to residential neighbourhoods as the main factors contributing to the risk.

A copy of the survey report, available with The Express Tribune, states that 568 industrial units are located within 0.5 kilometres of residential areas, while 441 units are operating inside or immediately adjacent to populated neighbourhoods. It also found that 734 industrial units were operating without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the EPA.

According to the report, another 782 industrial units are spread across 105 union councils, employing a total of 43,612 workers.

The survey further claimed that 70 industrial units in urban Faisalabad were operating without mandatory environmental approvals or chemical licences and were in violation of land-use regulations.

It recommended that these units should not be regularised because of the environmental and public health risks they allegedly pose.

In response to the findings, an emergency meeting of the Industry Relocation Committee was held under the chairmanship of Commissioner Faisalabad Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh.

The meeting decided to initiate action against industrial units located in residential areas that are considered to pose potential risks to public safety.

The commissioner constituted inspection teams comprising officials from the Labour Department, Municipal Corporation and Environmental Protection Agency.

The teams will inspect all 441 industrial units identified within urban residential areas.

According to officials, initial notices will be issued to the units, while inspections will focus on environmental approvals, labour registration, building plan approvals, and the capacity and safety standards of boilers and pressure vessels.

Dr Sheikh said industrial units operating without the required approvals would not be allowed to continue functioning within city limits.

He said the safety of industrial workers and residents living near such facilities would remain the administration's top priority.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the relocation of industries from residential areas to designated industrial zones.

Director General of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) Muhammad Asif Chaudhry, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Agency Usman Azhar, Director Labour Welfare Rai Yaseen, District Officer (Industry) Muhammad Irfan and other officials attended the meeting.