Environmental management to be further strengthened, says secy
KARACHI: Sindh Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Faisal Ahmed Uqaili has said that the environmental management system will be further strengthened to address environmental issues at their root, while all possible facilitation and support will be extended to the industrial sector.
Effective measures are being taken to improve coordination between the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and industry, with a focal person appointed to address complaints.
A dedicated WhatsApp group will also be established for better coordination with the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
Addressing industrialists at KATI, Faisal Ahmed Uqaili said environmental projects would be pursued under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework with efforts to ensure their completion within stipulated timelines.
He said a SEPA Deputy Director had been appointed as the focal person who would not only act on complaints but also keep complainants informed about the status and progress of their cases. He said a WhatsApp group for complaints had already been established, while a separate group would be created to improve communication and facilitate KATI.
Uqaili said the department had received six projects that would be taken forward under the PPP model. Workshops and seminars would also be organised to improve coordination and facilitate implementation.
He proposed forming a committee comprising two representatives each from SEPA and KATI to facilitate, coordinate and monitor the projects.
He also called for awareness sessions for stakeholders and the public on carbon financing.
KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said industrialists fully recognised the importance of controlling environmental pollution and protecting the environment, but effective implementation of environmental laws required practical guidance, reasonable time, technical support and effective coordination with relevant regulatory authorities.
He said the majority of industries in the Korangi Industrial Area were export-oriented and received international orders only after complying with international environmental standards and obtaining the required certifications. Most industries in Korangi, he added, strictly complied with both Pakistani and international environmental standards.
Rajput said that before taking enforcement action, industries should be provided with technical guidance, awareness, monitoring and a clearly defined timeframe to install the required systems.
He pointed out that despite government assurances, wastewater treatment plants had not been established in the Korangi Industrial Area.
However, major industrial units had installed treatment plants on a self-help basis.
He said the major challenge was the cottage industry, which formed the backbone of the industrial sector but often lacked sufficient financial resources to comply with international environmental standards.
He called for a practical and coordinated mechanism for establishing individual or collective wastewater treatment plants, particularly in areas where shared infrastructure would be more technically and financially feasible.
The KATI president proposed establishing a formal coordination mechanism between SEPA and KATI to coordinate inspection schedules, environmental awareness sessions, regulatory compliance and technical guidance.
Such a system, he said, would enhance transparency and cooperation, reduce misunderstandings and enable industries to take proactive measures to address environmental issues.
KATI Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya said SEPA was an important institution and its laws were stringent, but instead of focusing solely on regulatory enforcement, the agency should also play the role of a guide and facilitator for industrialists so that all stakeholders could benefit.
He said the Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) system had been introduced nearly two decades ago, but despite the passage of considerable time, it had not become fully operational.
Chhaya said around 75 to 80 percent of air pollution was caused by vehicular emissions, while industrial emissions accounted for approximately 20 to 25 percent.
Therefore, he stressed that SEPA should give equal attention to vehicular emissions along with industrial pollution.
He called for a balanced and facilitative policy instead of discriminatory treatment of industrialists and the business community, saying environmental protection and industrial development should continue hand in hand.
He also identified the inspection process as an important concern for the industrial community, noting that surprise inspections could sometimes unnecessarily disrupt factory production and routine operations.
He suggested that, wherever legally and practically possible, inspections should be planned and conducted through mutual coordination, with KATI also taken into confidence.
He further proposed establishing a one-window operation for environmental permits, approvals, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and other regulatory requirements to eliminate unnecessary delays, improve transparency and simplify the regulatory process.
Chairman of KATI’s Standing Committee on Health, Safety and Environment Saleem-uz-Zaman said there could be no compromise on environmental protection, but more effective and practical mechanisms were needed to address environmental challenges and improve the existing compliance system.
He said a long-term environmental management plan should be developed and implemented for sustainable development in industrial areas.
Saleem-uz-Zaman also proposed fully digitizing SEPA, saying a digital system could improve transparency, efficiency, record management, inspections, approvals, monitoring and communication between the regulator and industrial sector, while significantly reducing delays.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026