KARACHI, July 12: Taking notice of public complaints about air pollution caused by factories in the Korangi Industrial Area, the Sindh ombudsman has directed the environmental protection agency to carry out tests of the air pollution level in the surrounding area.

A spokesman for the ombudsman told Dawn that one such complaint was lodged by the Nazim, Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi, Mr Mohammad Anwar Alam Siddiqui.

The complaint was registered against M/s Sun Light Wood Products for not using proper safety measures as sawdust, along with chemical fumes, was billowing over the area and affecting the health of the residents in the vicinity and the students of the seminary.

Following the directives of the ombudsman, a team of the Sindh EPA visited the factory and collected dust samples, which were reportedly found below the polluting limits.

It was, however, reported that the chipboard factories located in the area were responsible for the release of sawdust particles causing problems for the people.

The complainants asserted that they were facing the hazardous effects of air pollution mainly from November to February every year.

The EPA officials were reported to have engaged a team of clean air experts who were visiting the agency to train its staff to handle the recently installed air quality control equipment stations at a few locations in the metropolis.

The ombudsman has directed the officials concerned of his secretariat to inspect the premises along with the Sindh EPA director-general and thoroughly check air pollution.