Polluting factories near airport banned

Brick kilns and asphalt plants within 12 km of Benazir Bhutto International Airport to be immediately shut down.


Express November 06, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Functioning of any brick kilns or asphalt plants within 12 kilometers of Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad has been banned. A three-member bench of Punjab Environmental Tribunal (PET) heard the case on Thursday and decided that all brick kilns and asphalt plants within 12 km of the airport must be closed immediately. Brick kilns that are operating 12 – 20 km of the airport have been given three months to relocate. They were advised to shift to more remote areas of the city.

PET is a special court established by the federal government and consisted of Khawaja Muhammad Afzal (judge), Ms Gulzar (member legal) and Musarat Baig Mirza (member technical).

Assistant Director Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PAK-EPA) Muhammad Rashid Cheema told The Express Tribune that people had been complaining about pollution which is why the matter was referred to PET.

“Recently, American pilots wrote to the Ministry of Defense that due to brick kilns and resulting smog, visibility was below par near the airport,” said Cheema. Pilots had said that until and unless action was taken in this regard, they would not be responsible for resulting accidents.

Cheema said, “PAK-EPA also served notices to owners of the kilns in 2009 but they preferred to go in litigation rather than shift. Around 72 brick kilns would be affected.”

Taimur Asghar, radar facility chief of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), along with Obaidur Rehman Abbasi, senior law advisor to CAA and Cheema briefed the PET regarding these kilns in the radius of Islamabad airport.

Abbasi told The Express Tribune that he appeared before PET to provide technical assistance.

Cheema said that the tribunal has compelled owners of kilns to use devices that control pollutant emission.

He said that such devices were available in the market that could control 50 per cent fumigation. Environmental Protection Tribunals are functioning in all four provinces of the country. As per Pak Environmental Protection Act 1997, the federal capital city Islamabad came under Punjab Tribunal.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Sajid Mahmood (Chemist-Air) mobile #00923005066011 | 13 years ago | Reply i humbly request the The Express Tribune that if possible readvertise the news with new corrected one so that inventor get reward. ISLAMABAD: Functioning of any brick kilns or asphalt plants within 12 kilometers of Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad has been banned. A three-member bench of Punjab Environmental Tribunal (PET) heard the case on Thursday and decided that all brick kilns and asphalt plants which are in operation within 12 km of the airport have been given three months to relocate. They were advised to shift to more remote areas of the city .Brick kilns that are operating 12 – 20 km of the airport must install Pollution Control Device. PET is a special court established by the federal government and consisted of Khawaja Muhammad Afzal (judge), Ms Gulzar (member legal) and Musarat Baig Mirza (member technical). Assistant Director Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PAK-EPA) Muhammad Rashid Cheema told The Express Tribune that people had been complaining about pollution which is why the matter was referred to PET. “Recently, American pilots wrote to the Ministry of Defense that due to brick kilns and resulting smog, visibility was below par near the airport,” said Cheema. Pilots had said that until and unless action was taken in this regard, they would not be responsible for resulting accidents. Cheema said, “PAK-EPA also served notices to owners of the kilns in 2009 but they preferred to go in litigation rather than shift. Around 72 brick kilns would be affected.” Taimur Asghar, radar facility chief of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), along with Obaidur Rehman Abbasi, senior law advisor to CAA and Cheema briefed the PET regarding these kilns in the radius of Islamabad airport. Abbasi told The Express Tribune that he appeared before PET to provide technical assistance. Cheema said that the tribunal has compelled owners of kilns to use devices that control pollutant emission. He said that such device named Smoke Density Reduction Device (SDR) is designed by Mr. Sajid Mahmood (Chemist-Air) Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, Islamabad who already given briefing on this device to Environmental tribunal that could control 50 per cent emissions. Environmental Protection Tribunals are functioning in all four provinces of the country. As per Pak Environmental Protection Act 1997, the federal capital city Islamabad came under Punjab Tribunal. Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2010.
Sajid Mahmood (Chemist-Air) | 13 years ago | Reply Most Respected Sir, i not want to comment but just want to correct/add this news that, this Emission control device for brick kiln is not available in the market which control 50% pollution. this device designed by me who is (Chemist-Air) employee of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, Islamabad and i also given briefing on this device after the briefing of Taimoor Asghar Chief radar facility officer and Mr Cheema Assistant Director Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Islamabad.but my name in this news is not mentioned along with this device, although environmental tribunal clearly instruct to install this device which actually Smoke Density Reduction Device(SDR) which control 50% pollution of traditional brick kilns. i hope you will add in this news. Sajid Mahmood Chemist-Air Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Islamabad
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