As many as 13 combined effluent treatment plants would be established soon to treat industrial waste, State Minister for Environment Tahir Iqbal informed the National Assembly on Thursday.
He stated this during the question hour, as opposition and treasury members pressed the government for a strategy to control the environment and water pollution.
He said discussions were underway on the three feasibility reports prepared so far and funds would be allocated, involving the Asian Development Bank and local entrepreneurs after final approval of the feasibility.
The minister said that there were complaints of water pollution from Peshawar to Karachi from River Kabul to River Indus.
As many as 128 units in 12 industrial sectors had installed treatment plants, he said, adding that most of the industries adopted biological treatment technique, while only 30 units adopted chemical treatment method.
He said that owing to financial constraints, a very few provincial environment protection agencies were monitoring industries. However, the Federal Environment Protection Agency plans to launch a self-monitoring and reporting programme.
Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed of PPPP said that District Kasur was the most polluted city in Asia, but the respective governments had turned a blind eye towards polluted water and environment.
"Cases of cancer and limb disability because of chromium and other pollutants in water are rising day-by-day. Young men of 20-22 years are falling prey to cancer, but unfortunately no remedial measures have been taken," he lamented.
During the business after the question hour was over, PPPP's Dr Fehmida Mirza complained on a point of order that since July 2003, no provincial or federal agency provided relief to the flood victims.
"Not a penny out of Rs 50 million announced by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for the victims of Badin floods and rains was distributed among the people," she added.
However, Railways Minister Ghous Bakhsh Mehar said that relief aid and support was being given to the people of Badin.
PPPP lawmakers, Ghulam Murtaza Satti and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf drew attention of the House towards cutting of thousands of trees from Loi Bhair, located half in Islamabad and half in Rawalpindi.
They alleged that a housing scheme was launched by grabbing the government land in the locality, depriving it of the jungle, which was house to diverse kinds of animals and birds.
The lawmakers demanded probe into the matter as to under whose authority, the government land was occupied and the jungle was cut.
The House adopted resolutions for parliamentary friendship with Canada and Ireland.
The government and opposition benches were of the view that those trading in illegal prize bond business should be taken to task and this activity should be properly regularised to save the innocent people from being looted.
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