KARACHI, Sept 21: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that 8,000 CNG buses will be brought in the province over the next five years in phases under a federal government programme in line with the government’s efforts towards conservation and protection of environment.

The governor was talking to journalists after inaugurating the Environmental Studies Centre, established at the Hamdard University’s main campus, here on Wednesday.

He said that the government was fully awoke to its global responsibility towards protection of environment and, therefore, it was playing its active role in combating pollution.

He pointed out that the federal government had formulated a comprehensive policy in this regard which was being followed by provinces with full attention.

He said the three effluent-treatment plants being established in Karachi’s industrial areas by tanners would contribute considerably towards the cause. Through these plants, sewage would be treated to retrieve water for consumption in the industries.

Another three plants, he added, would be set up with the assistance of federal government.

The governor said that approximately 350 million gallon per day (mgd) sewage was being produced in the city but the existing plants having treatment capacity of 150 mgd, due to non-maintenance, could process around 100 mgd only. He, however, added that efforts were being made to ensure functioning of the plants to their optimum capacity.

In reply to a question regarding the Landhi tragedy, Dr Ibad said that lack of awareness in public, as well as improper handling of water connections by inexperienced people, had led to the contamination of drinking water in that area.

He said that investigation was under way and action would be initiated against any department found responsible for the contamination.

While inaugurating the newly constructed state-of-the-art Environmental Studies Centre, Governor Dr Ibad declared Hamdard University’s main campus ‘green campus’, and announced Rs5 for upgrading the centre.

He said that with the opening of the centre at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology, the Hamdard University was now entering into the multidimensional field of environmental education and research.

“I am pleased to see Shaheed Hakeem Said’s vision turning substantially into reality,” he remarked, and hoped that the centre would undertake such projects which would be of a significant value with regard to the overall conservation and protection of environment for the generations to come.

HU Chancellor Senator S.M. Zafar, referring to the disaster like hurricane Katrina and the tragedy following outbreak of epidemic in Landhi, said that such happenings signified importance of environmental research and forecasting.

He said this first-ever environmental studies centre would play a vital role in conducting research and supplementing the government’s efforts towards overcoming environmental problems.

HU Vice-Chancellor Prof M. Iqbal Qureshi, in his welcome address, said the establishment of this centre was a step towards realizing Hakeem Said’s desire to create an institute of environmental sciences.

Eminent researcher Barrister Rashid Munir, Managing Director of the Hamdard Laboratories Dr Naveedul Zafar, Dr Manzoor Ahmed, faculty deans and directors of the Hamdard University were among those present on the occasion.—APP