Staff Reporter
Karachi
Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is taking two major steps with regard to industrial and vehicular emissions control on emergency basis to retain the 40 per cent improvement in the air quality of Karachi which was witnessed after the imposition of lock-down to contain the spread of Covid 19.
SEPA has issued directives to all industrial associations to conduct air quality monitoring in their industrial areas to check air quality degradation and plant saplings in huge number in and around their factories. Industries were asked to submit their tree plantation plan within one week into the office of SEPA. The steps are being taken on the directives of Spokesperson of the Government of Sindh and Advisor to CM Sindh.
Industries have also been directed to improve the conditions of their buses of shuttle service to control their air emissions and take practical measures to facilitate smooth plying of vehicles in and around their factories.
Moreover, SEPA is also re-launching its vehicular emission control campaign throughout the city to fine/penalize smoke-emitting vehicles with the help of traffic police. In this regard an emergency meeting of all industrial associations of the city including Federal B Area, North Karachi, SITE, and Super Highway was held under the chairmanship of Director General SEPA Naeem Ahmed Mughal at the office of SITE Association.
The meeting was attended by Sulaiman Chawla President SITE Association, Shaheen Ilyas President Super Highway, Nasim Akhtar President North Karachi Industrial Association, Noman Yaqoob President Landhi Association, Abdullah Abid F.B.Area Industrial Association, Sheikh Umer Rehan President Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, Naveed Shakoor President Bin Qasim Association besides prominent industrialists Zubair Motiwala, Salim Pareekh and Javed Balwani.
Representatives from SEPA were Director Regional Office Karachi Aashiqui Langha, Deputy Directors Waris Gabol and Imran Sabir besides DG SEPA.
Addressing the meeting, the DG SEPA Naeem Ahmed Mughal said that for the vigorous enforcement of environmental laws all necessary measures are being taken by the environmental watchdog on priority basis.
