KARACHI, July 9: Ombudsman of Sindh Justice Haziqul Khairi has directed chief controller of buildings to dismantle all workshops of goldsmiths in Saddar area within three months.
The ombudsman has observed that harmful emission and foul smell of acid from these workshops were transforming the residential-cum=commercial area into an industrial estate.
A decision to this affect was taken and issued by the ombudsman on Wednesday following his visit to these workshops alongwith the City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, to ascertain the factual position.
Earlier, a team of advisers to the ombudsman, comprising Ms Mahtab Akbar Rashidi, Bahauddin Sirhindi and Syed Nasim Haider, had found that apart from environmental degradation, the cumulative effect of the hazardous activity was quite toxic and a source of possible fire.
In case of an emergency, like fire, blast, etc., thousands of residents may get trapped as these workshops are located in multi-storeyed buildings. Most of the residences have been protected with iron grills and entry/exits remain locked for security reasons.
The ombudsman and Nazim met a number of residents and found that a large number of them were suffering from various diseases due to the activities of these goldsmiths.
Taking into account all these factors, the ombudsman directed chief controller of the Karachi Building Control Authority to proceed against those shops working unlawfully in Saddar area and ensure their closure within the stipulated time.
The Ombudsman also directed provincial secretary of environmental and alternate energy and the DG of Sindh Environmental Protection Agency to monitor the progress of dismantling of these workshops and submit to him a report on monthly basis.
The officials have also been ordered to ensure that the provincial Environmental Tribunal is made functional at the earliest so that provisions of sections 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the Pakistan Environmental Act 1997 are implemented in their true letter and spirit.—PPI
