LAHORE, Dec 17: The River Ravi is extremely polluted when it enters Pakistan from India and its pollution gradually decreases as it flows towards the Guddu Barrage, according to a UNIDO study.

UNIDO expert Dr Irshad said this while talking to Dawn here on Tuesday.

He said maximum pollution had been detected during the study of the Bio-Oxygen Demand (BOD) in its water at 20 spots from the Indo-Pakistan border to the Guddu Barrage.

He said a maximum BOD of 250 milligrams per litre was detected in the river when it entered Pakistan and it was reduced to 130 at its bridge in Lahore despite the disposal of the sullage water in it. The BOD level of river water dropped below 80 mg per litre when it reached Guddu, he added.

Dr Irshad said Ravi water was excessively polluted when it entered Pakistan because of disposal of untreated industrial effluents in it in India.

He said Pakistan would take up the matter with India in the international environmental forums.