KARACHI, June 4: Like in the past, the World Environment Day is again being celebrated by people around the globe on June 5. The day, founded by the United Nations in 1972, provides citizens, governments and non-governmental organizations, and politicians and planners to think about pollution, ecological destruction, environmental degradation and scarcity of resources.

However, both the Sindh environment department and the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency have been unable to arrange for any gathering or walk, involving the masses, especially students, on June 5, for any stimulation of awareness on environment, and getting peoples’ attention or action.

The theme of the day selected for this year emphasizes on improving the environment in cities and addressing problems faced by dwellers, besides setting up a benchmark for an urban lifestyle.

Experts from time to time have been highlighting factors posing potential threats to Karachi’s environment, which has 10 per cent of the country’s population.

Solid waste management, disposal of medical and hospital waste, disposal of effluents, emission from transports on road, disposal of industrial and domestic effluents in the sea, power plants and diesel generators, hoarding and billboards, noise and air pollution, water contamination, discharge of gases and chemicals from industries, and tree-felling and unmitigated rural-urban migration need focus on priority bases.

In a message, the Adviser to chief minister on Environment, Noman Saigol, said vital factors like environment could change the overall condition of a country like Dubai and other UAE states.