KARACHI, May 31: Nazim Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, has said that industrialists should extend full cooperation to the government to check the growing environmental pollution.

He was speaking at a briefing session at the site of the effluent treatment plant constructed by the Pakistan Tanners Associations’ Environmental Society in Korangi at the cost of Rs470 million.

The Nazim pointed out that the coastal areas of Karachi were badly affected by pollution. The marine life was deteriorating with the disposal of chemical waste from the Korangi Industrial Area into the sea.

“We have received complaints from the people living in the coastal areas, along the Malir river and from the shipping industry including the navy regarding the high level of pollution in the sea and waterways.” he said.

He said that it was most unfortunate to see that people living and dying in the city did not feel any responsibility toward it and that responsibility was more on the shoulders of businessmen and well-off people.

The Nazim lauded the PTA for launching a treatment plant of their own and said that most of the environmental problems faced by Karachi could be resolved if pollution was reduced at the source.

He expressed the hope that “this biggest project of its kind in Pakistan” which had been initiated by an NGO of industrialists at their own, would be completed in time and the Environmental Society would take initiatives to impart their knowledge and expertise to other industrial areas.

President PTA Environment Society, Gulzar Feroz, speaking on the occasion, said that despite facing financial problems the Society decided to go ahead with the project and appealed to the tanners to contribute their share.

“The plant is spread over an area of 15 acres and can treat waste from 170 tanneries, besides disposing about 700 to 800 tons of solid waste. The most important aspect of this modern plant is that it has a chrome recovery and refuse plant... chrome is one of the most lethal metals used in tanneries which not only causes damage to humans but also to marine life,” he explained. Ahsan Elahi, treasurer of the Society, also spoke on the occasion and informed about the problems faced by the industry after the 9/11 tragedy.

The government of the Netherlands has provided Rs20 million for the project, which comes to about 3.85 % of the cost.—-APP/PPI