KARACHI, Dec 29: Experts on environmental issues have emphasized on adoption of uniform laboratory operations by various environmental planning and regulatory agencies of the government.

They were speaking at a two-day workshop on “Sampling/ Environmental Monitoring”, on Monday, which was organized by the Institute of Environmental Studies, the University of Karachi, in collaboration with the Programme for Environmental Research and Training (PERT), Islamabad. The vice-chancellor of Karachi University, Dr Zafar Saied Saify, presided over the workshop.

The experts highlighted the importance of sample collections, analysis and compilation of related data in the field of environment. They noted that lack of coordination among various agencies and absence of any approved methodology were major hindrances in the production of any defensible and quality data.

Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the workshop, Sindh Secretary Environment Shujaat Ali Qarni stressed the need for developing research linkage among government agencies, industrial organizations and research institutions.

He expressed hope that the PERT workshop would contribute towards generation of mechanism and guidelines for implementation. He said that postgraduate research activities should be increased in the environment sector.

The director of KU’s Institute of Environmental Studies, Dr Nayyar Alam Zaigham, said that the workshop was aimed at providing specialized training to the participants coming from academic and research organizations in the public sector.

He said that the methodology and guidelines discussed at the workshop would provide a base for unified approaches needed for accuracy in results while ascertaining the impact of environment degradation activities.

Dr Moazzam Ali Khan urged the national institutions to evolve and observe quality control programmes within them. He also deliberated on water quality parameters. He said quality assurance was a definite plan for laboratory operation that specified standard procedures to help producing data with defensible quality and reported results with a high level of confidence.

Dr Omm-e-Hani informed the participants about the methodology and equipment used at environmental microbiology laboratory.

PERT Coordinator Dr Hashmi and Himad Naqi Khan of the World Wide Fund for Nature also spoke on the occasion.