LAHORE, June 5: The Punjab has asked district governments to take immediate steps for the supply of clean water to people in the province.
This was stated by Punjab Environment Minister Makhdoom Ashfaq Ahmed while addressing a seminar in connection with the World Environment Day here at the Alhamra Arts Council on Saturday. The seminar was organized by the Punjab Environment Protection Department and the City District Government.
The minister said the district governments should discourage use of hand-pumps as there were reports that its water got contaminated with the sub-soil water.
He also directed the EPD to cooperate with all departments concerned in evolving a comprehensive strategy to supply clean water, especially to the people of the rural areas, where such complaints were common.
The minister blamed the previous governments for haphazard growth of industry in the province, saying had they (industries) been developed in the commercial areas, the residential ones would not have been affected by their hazardous effluents.
He said the government had decided to install water treatment plants in six major cities of the province so that the industries could treat their waste before dumping it into open places, drains, irrigation channels and rivers.
"The industries must realize that after the implementation of the World Trade Organization regime in 2005 only environment-friendly industries will be allowed to export their products", he added.
He hoped that the government would succeed in running CNG-fitted buses, cabs and rickshaws in the province within a year. He directed the EPD to inspect the MacDonalds restaurants in the province for their alleged packing of food stuff in plastic bags.
EPD deputy director Nasimur Rehman said there was a need to sensitize people about proper disposal of domestic waste which could reduce burden on the government.
PCSIR (environment head) Tahira Shafique also spoke.
Another seminar organized by the Pakistan Engineering Congress and Environment Monitor was held at a local hotel.
Corporate lawyer Anjum Jawaid Khan said the resources of sea should be exploited to their potential. He said the Sea Convention Law regarding the stability and peaceful usage of seas and oceans should be followed. The law was ratified by 160 countries, including Pakistan, in 1994, he said. He criticized the government for mishandling on the oil spill incident last year and asked to it to make public its inquiry report.
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Anjum Nisar Khan said industrialists had started realizing that they would not be allowed to export their products under the WTO regime without installing water treatment plants and they were taking measures to install such plants.