Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has committed to addressing a range of pressing environmental challenges exacerbated by economic growth, urban sprawl, and industrialization. The province is grappling with the decline of freshwater bodies, marine and urban air pollution, inadequate solid waste management, ecosystem destruction, changes in groundwater, and significant environmental health risks. In a statement, CM Murad emphasized the need for departments responsible for environmental issues to play an effective and result-oriented role, keeping him updated on their progress.
He announced his intention to hold monthly meetings to monitor and drive forward these critical initiatives.
This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while presiding over a meeting to observe World Environment Day here at the CM House on Wednesday. Provincial ministers – DrAzraPechuho, SaeedGhani, Jam Khan Shoro, Dost Ali Rahmoo, Mayor Karachi MurtazaWahab, Chief Secretary AsifHyder Shah, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, IG Police, provincial secretaries, Administrator DHA, Chairman Port Qasim, Chairman KPT, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, DG EPA Naeem Mughal, and through video link divisional Commissioners and DIGs of other divisions attended the meeting. Mr Shah said that in connection with World Environment Day celebrated worldwide on 5th June, we needed to take stock of the situation and devise strategies to preserve and improve the environment.
“The economic development, urban sprawl, and industrialization of recent decades have led to environmental challenges in our province,” he said and added these challenges include degradation of freshwater bodies, marine pollution, urban air pollution, inadequate solid waste management, destruction of ecosystems, changes in groundwater, and the costs associated with environmental health risks. Today, on World Environment Day 2024, we gather to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our planet and preserving its beauty for future generations, the CM said and added that our world was facing unprecedented environmental challenges, such as Climate Change phenomena, pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and destruction of Ecosystems. Yet, amidst these challenges, there is hope, the CM said and added that we have the knowledge, technology, and collective will to make a difference.
Murad Shah directed all the concerned departments and agencies to pledge to him to address the environmental issues of the province with consistency and constant pursuance by engaging all stakeholders. He added that his government’s prime responsibility was to provide a healthy environment to citizens by reducing our carbon footprint, conserving water and energy, planting trees and supporting reforestation, reducing, reusing, and recycling waste, and supporting sustainable practices and renewable energy. Murad Shah said that we owed it to ourselves, our children, and the future of our planet to act now.
“Let us unite in this fight and make a difference, one small step at a time.,” he said. He added that together, we could create a better world, a greener world, a world worth living in. Minister Health DrAzra said that hospital waste was being managed properly but even then more steps were required to protect the environment. Minister Local Government SaeedGhani said that he has directed all the local bodies to keep their areas neat and clean and start tree plantation. SaeedGhani said that he was pursuing the installation.Minister of Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro said that untreated industrial water was being released into the River Indus and the canal against which he has taken strict measures.
