HARIPUR: The district administration has sealed eight industrial units for allegedly violating environmental laws and causing pollution.

Official sources said here on Thursday that the action was taken following public complaints against the industries of Hattar Economic Zone (HEZ) concerning emitting chemical-laden smoke and flushing out untreated hazardous waste in the watercourses.

Accompanied by deputy director industrial development, officials of environment protection department and police, the assistant commissioner during a visit to HEZ caught the management of eight industrial units responsible for hazardous emissions and release of industrial waste in violation of Environmental Protection Act 1997 and sealed them.

The industrial units included Haidry Plywood, Islamabad Chip Board, Qartas papers mills, Mughal packages, Afzal steel mills, Zaman papers mills, CPI chemicals process industry and Horizon paper mills.

When contacted, deputy commissioner Nadeem Nasir confirmed the report and said he had received a number of complaints from the residents of nearby localities and the commuters about the unchecked emissions and waste. He said despite warnings the owners defied the restrictions and did not install emissions control system. He said the administration took action under the relevant laws.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2021