KARACHI, Jan 14: Governor Mohammedmian Soomro has directed the officials to devise a time-frame for elimination of environmental pollution.

Speaking at a meeting, the governor stressed the need for a coordination between all organisations working in the field and said steps be taken to control marine pollution.

It was decided that the solid waste management in Karachi would be made more effective to check flow of pollution from the city to the sea and to bring about an improvement in the operation of treatment plants.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan informed the meeting that tenders were being invited for improving the solid waste management.

The meeting was informed that Sindh was the first to have chalked out a policy for disposal of polythene bags, whereafter the black bags had been eliminated while efforts were continuing to ban other bags as well.

The governor called for creating an awareness among the people for their appropriate disposal till these bags are totally eliminated.

He directed that a working group, comprising representatives of concerned organisations be formed for initiating an effective campaign against pollution.

He said the group be called into meeting every month, with the monitoring of ongoing efforts in all sectors, specially the industrial sector.

He said that monitoring was a must to ensure the accomplishment of the programme as per time-frame.

The meeting was informed that courts of judicial magistrates exist in the province to deal with the cases of violation of environmental laws.

The meeting was informed that Sindh was the first province where these courts had been set up and these courts had been functioning.

The KPT was urged to maintain a strict vigil on ships causing pollution and violating the environmental laws.

It was stated that the amount of fine recovered from such ships be utilized towards the efforts being made for an improvement in environmental conditions.

Mr Soomro directed the city government to maintain cleanliness in the coastal recreational spots. He called for protection of mangroves and action against those who destroy them.

The meeting was attended by Commander Logistics of Pakistan Navy, officials of Maritime Security Agency, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, Principal Secretary to the Governor Brig Akhtar Zamin, provincial secretary of forests and environment Shamsul Haque Memon, secretary of agriculture Abdul Rashid Memon and others.

Meanwhile, a 45-member delegation of Pakistan Chemical & Dyers Merchants Association called on the governor and apprised him of the problems pertaining to removal of encroachments, sanitation and car thefts in the commercial areas.

The governor said that the government was providing all possible facilities to the businessmen to ensure continued and unhindered economic activities.

The governor issued orders for elimination of encroachments and removal of garbage dumps.

He told the delegation that police have been issued clear-cut instructions to check vehicle theft.

Soomro told the delegation that laws have been simplified and made investment-friendly in the industrial and commercial sectors while acts of harassment of people by government functionaries have totally been eliminated.—APP