The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has foiled a plan to leave the city at the mercy of worst environmental pollution, it was learnt on Monday. A team of the environment protection body in a raid in Port Qasim area, Malir, captured several trucks carrying toxic cargo, comprising dangerous pesticides and expired drugs. Toxic, hazardous materials were being dumped in the area after being transported in from various parts of the country, which could spread dangerous toxic gases in the port city. Poisonous substance in the vicinity of Port Qasim could pose threat to human as well as animal lives in the area. The operation was carried out on the instructions of acting Director SEPA, Karachi, Waris Ali Gabol The contract for burning the said pesticide has been awarded by the UNDP on the instructions of the United Nations. Had it not been for timely action, it could have been detrimental to our future generations, the acting Director SEPA said Waris Ali Gabol said under the UN agreement, deadly pesticides from all over the world are to be burnt in a particular way, adding throwing deadly pesticides in the open or in the sea could have caused massive damage to the environment. He said negative effects of lethal pesticides in the open can persist for many years and assured action against those who play with human lives. Earlier, SEPA had sealed 100 kilns in Surjani Town and confiscated banned plastic bags in markets of FB Area and Karimabad. The agency claimed to have shut down 100 ‘illegal’ setups in the West district where batteries were being melted for recycling. A team found 100 kilns in Old Cattle Colony, Surjani Town to be operating without authorised registration, and without applying precautionary measures to control emissions.
