KARACHI, Aug 3: The adviser to chief minister on Environment, Noman Saigol, has issued instructions to the EPA Sindh to prepare proposals for privatization of issuance of vehicle fitness certificates so that a foolproof mechanism can be put into practice for a safe and clean environment.

He was talking to officers of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Sindh at a meeting, also attended by director general, EPA Sindh Shafique Khoso, and director Iqbal Nafees Khan, senior scientific officer S.M. Yahya and assistant director Mujtaba Baig.

The adviser asked EPA Sindh to expedite the process of various development projects including those of water quality monitoring, institutional strengthening and capacity building of EPA Sindh, ADP schemes for the current fiscal year, and those of the National Environment Action Plan.

He was of the view that, owing to paucity of resources, the government alone could not deliver everything to all; and for this purpose dedicated and well-reputed NGOs and CBOs should be identified and recommended for small funding to implement micro-environment projects through regular funding programmes of the National Conservation Strategy.

Mr Saigol said that in this age of self-sustainability, only departments generating their own resources to meet their operational expenditures would thrive well.

In this regard, he asked EPA Sindh to make proposals under which the agency could generate funds to properly monitor the province's environment, adding the proposals would then be sent to concerned authorities.

He issued instructions for pointing out the possible role of EPA Sindh for maintaining proper quality of fire-fighting equipment at and service quality of CNG stations, and janitorial services for ensuring safety and ability to quickly respond to any untoward incident. -APP