ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: A special meeting of the Environment Donors Coordination Group held here on Thursday was told that the first phase for assessing the damage caused by Tasman Spirit oil spill close to Karachi shore would be completed by January 2004.

The meeting, presided over by Minister of State In Charge for Environment Maj Tahir Iqbal (retired), was also attended by the representatives of Canadian International Development Agency and donor agencies. UNEP expert Dr Stefan Maecaff was also present in the meeting.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) expert, Dr Richard Steve, who dealt with the Alaska oil spill, made presentation on the report prepared by them in consultation with the Environment Impact Evaluation Committee (EIEC). He also elaborated the natural resource damage assessment.

The minister urged the international agencies to help assess natural resource damage caused by heavy oil spill and restore the coastal environment.

The director-general of Pakistan Environment Protection Agency told the meeting that eight teams had been constituted for assessment of the damage.

He added that the National Institution of Oceanography would also be consulted in this regard.

The EIEC representative proposed rehabilitation measures for the ‘beach community’ and a restoration plan for the coastal eco- system of Karachi.

Similarly, the IUCN expert called for constituting an autonomous body, ‘Pakistan Coastal Commission’, for sustainable management of coastal areas.

The minister appreciated the proposal and vowed that steps would be taken to establish the proposed commission after consultation with all stakeholders, including Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan Navy and Maritime Security Agency.

He said the environment ministry had also recommended relief grant for the poor people whose income had been adversely affected due to oil spill.

Mr Iqbal also appreciated donors, particularly the UNDP, for assisting the ministry in the first phase of damage assessment on scientific basis. He said the ministry had prepared a draft ‘National Oil Spill Contingency Plan’ to prevent such incidents in future.