SEPA takes steps to retain improvement in air quality after lockdown

KARACHI: Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is taking major steps regarding industrial and vehicular emissions control on emergency basis to retain the 40 percent improvement in the air quality of Karachi which was witnessed during the lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19. SEPA has issued directives to all industrial associations to monitor air quality 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 to the office of SEPA. Industries have also been directed to improve the conditions of their buses of shuttle service to control 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 SITE Association president Sulaiman Chawla, 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.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020