Secretary, Environment and Alternative Energy Sindh, Mir Hussain Ali has emphasised need of early revision of environment laws. Speaking at a meeting of WTO, Intellectual Property Rights and Environment Sub committee of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Tuesday, he said environment laws were framed in 80s, which need to be revised to match present requirements.
He assured that a committee comprising more then 50 percent industrial representative would be formed to examine prevailing environment law and draft new laws. Referring to NEQS, he said at present NEQS for all the areas are same whereas different industries generate different type of effluent which requires different standards.
Mir Hussain Ali said that 95 percent industries and old public transport creating environment hazard in the city. He admitted that non-implementing of environment laws is the biggest reason behind environment hazard in the city. City generating 500 MGD effluent out of which only 100 MGD is traded and rest discharged in sea untreated.
The secretary said that the government has to carry out lot of development work like improving infrastructure, completing mass transit projects, reviving circular railway, establishing four combined effluent treatment plants to overcome environment problems Replying a question, Director General Environment Protection Agency, Naim Mugal said that the department has served 2000 notices to various industries on violation of environment laws and 15 cases are pending in Environment Protect Agencies.