THIS refers to your editorial ‘Deadly industrial effluent’ (May 4). For a long time now, Karachi’s beaches have been polluted by untreated waste discharged into the sea by Lyari and Malir Rivers.

Back in 1991, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board embarked upon an ambitious programme to make sewage treatment plants in Mauripur, utilising funds given by the Asian Development Bank.

In 1992, two salt works were forced to close down and instead of being utilised by the sewerage plants, the land (900 acres) was given to private transport contractors and a truck stand was constructed but so far there is no sign of a sewerage treatment plant despite the passage of 22 years. The poisonous effluent continues to be discharged into the ocean.

Shakir Lakhani
Karachi