PRIME Minister Nawaz Sharif has declared that 10 power plants with a total generation capacity of 6,600MW will be established at Gadani.

This is good news but there is one concern. The Pakistan Steel Mills was first planned in that area but it was later changed to Port Qasim after it was discovered that polluted wind-flowing from the Steel Mills in an easterly direction would reach Karachi and pollute its atmosphere.

Coal-based power generation emits substantial pollution and that is one of the reasons why power generators in the US are being switched from coal to gas.

Pollution from gas-fired power generators is much less. Environmentalists' advice should be sought first before deciding the location of the proposed power park.

HUMAYUN ZAFAR
Toronto, Ontario, Canada