KARACHI, April 25: Environmental pollution has become a serious challenge to public health amid rapid industrialization with innumerable hazards attached to it. People have to make use of natural resources but the hazards have been making it dangerous to their health.

This was observed by Nazim of Saddar Town Mohammad Farooque Memon Faria while speaking at a seminar organized by Karachi Social Forum, according to a press release issued on Monday.

Mr Faria said that industrial development had been contributing greatly to make the life comfortable, but irrational utilization of natural resources was proving harmful to public health as this was polluting the environment.

Recounting the factors contributing to pollution, he made mention of hazardous waste generated by industries, contaminated water, disposal of sewage at inappropriate places due to lack of proper facilities, emission from vehicles, decline in forests and use of hazardous pesticides.

The nazim, acknowledging that pollution could not be eliminated completely, but stressed that it could be contained to a certain level through precautionary measures. Efforts towards the end, he said, were essential for ensuring a better environment for our future generations.

TMO Syed Raza Abbas Rizvi, Dr Akhter Hussain Jafari and Riaz Mansoor also spoke at the seminar.—PPI