ISLAMABAD, June 15: State Minister for Environment Tahir Iqbal has said water purification plants will be installed at all tubewells and water tanks and other water supply sources.

Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on ‘relationship of poverty and environment with Tuberculosis (TB)’ on Saturday he said access to safe drinking water was right of every citizen as most diseases spread through it.

The seminar was convened by District Anti TB Association, Rawalpindi, and sponsored by National TB programme for creating awareness against the deadly disease.

Mr Iqbal said smoke emitting from vehicles and factories played a key role in spreading of diseases. For ensuring a smoke free atmosphere to the citizens a road fitness test would be launched under which no vehicle could be allowed to come on road without clearing it, he added.

He said a special drive against smoke omitting vehicles was under way and special campaign for proper disposal of factories waste would also be considered.

All these factors flourish owing to poverty so the government is introducing a microcredit programmes for the uplift of kutchi abadis’ inhabitants, the minister maintained.

Speaking on the occasion, District Anti TB Association Rawalpindi president Naheed Kiani said Tuberculosis was one of the major diseases associated with poverty and environment.

Poor housing conditions along with inadequate environmental settings and poor nutritional status of individuals are principal predisposing factors in the occurrence and spread of Tuberculosis, she added. About the ratio of TB in the country, she said Pakistan ranks sixth among the countries with highest disease burden and contributes 43 per cent of disease burden in the eastern Mediterranean Region.

According to WHO estimates, more than 250,000 persons acquire active TB disease in Pakistan every year, about two third of which belong to productive age group, she added.

Environment, particularly domestic environment, is a major deriving force in the occurrence and spread of diseases, she said.

In order to eliminate this evil from the society, a strong commitment is essential at all levels, individuals, communities, governments and international partners, she added.—APP