KARACHI, Dec 2: Pakistani environmentalists and government agencies may develop working relationships with Indian conservationists and experts for the improvement of air quality in major cities of the country, including Karachi , said the Adviser to the Chief Minister on Environment and Alternate Energy, Noman Saigol, on Thursday.

Speaking at a press briefing at his office, the adviser said that he and other high officials of the provincial and federal environment agencies were leaving shortly for India to attend a "Better Air Quality (BAQ) 2004" workshop at Agra from December 6 to 8.

We have not only planned to attend various sessions of the workshops during our stay in India, but we will also meet different authorities, scientists, industrialists and NGOs involved in air quality preservation and control as sideline activities, he said, adding that the ultimate objectives of Pakistani representatives would be to discuss pollution problems and find solutions from the experiences of the stakeholders and facilities available with Indians in the environment sector.

According to reports, degradation of ambient air quality has been one of the emerging environmental issues, particularly in the urban areas, including Karachi, which is the largest and densely populated city of Pakistan and the major industrial hub of the country.

Environmentalists claim that the air pollution level in Karachi has crossed the safe limits due to perpetual addition of suspended particulate matters mainly from vehicles, industries and open burning of solid waste.

According to estimates, there at present about one million motor vehicles on roads and most emit hazardous smoke, while on the other hand industrial units scattered all over the city are also considered as point sources of air pollution.

Mr Saigol said that the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency had been making efforts to overcome the adverse situation through monitoring and guidance and creating awareness about clean air, but things remained unchanged since response from stakeholders was not encouraging.

"We also lack the technical capabilities, research, and other related facilities, and as such I see no harm in getting something out of the Agra workshop and learn from the ideas and options already tried in India, he pointed out, mentioning that Pakistanis could interact with the Indians and other quarters in the region for environmental research projects and acquisition of cost-effective alternates, which could be applied and replicated in Karachi and other urban cities of the country.

He said that arrangements were under way for meeting Indian environmental authorities, transport managers as well as representatives of donor agencies, like the World Bank, the ADB, and the US environment agency, which were organizing the workshop.

Pakistan's minister for environment is also to attend the workshop, he added. The main topics of the BAQ 2004, Agra, are: Air quality management in India, Impact of air pollution in India, Vehicle emission, Fuel quality, Prevention vs control of air pollution in Asia, Urban air quality management and Society's role in BAQ management.