ISLAMABAD, July 14: Owners of steel mills in Islamabad have asked Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) to give them four months to upgrade technologies to control emissions into the air.

The request came after Director General Pak-EPA Asif Shuja convinced owners of steel mills in the capital to sign a resolution to back the agency's efforts to improve environmental conditions in the industrial area.

“In about five or six months time, residents in Islamabad will no more see those chimneys coughing thick black smoke,” said Mr Shuja told Dawn . He added that any mill not upgrading equipment to prevent emission of poisonous smoke would be shut down.

Residents of the capital have been complaining about thick dark clouds from chimneys of the factories and mills in I sectors.

According to the resolution, steel mills' owners would support Pak-EPA's efforts to make Islamabad pollution free in general and the industrial area in particular.

The owners also committed to all out efforts, including upgradation of anti-pollution equipment and further bring down emission levels of their steel units to the levels prescribed in the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) established by the government in four months.

They also agreed to record emission levels through online monitors already installed on their steel units and regularly submit fortnightly report to Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency.

“Their machineries and other equipment need overhauling. Islamabad was designed to provide a healthy climate, pollution free atmosphere, plenty of water lush green area,” said Asif Shuja.

“However, with increasing population and industrial growth, its resources and environment has been under tremendous pressure. We will do whatever it takes to keep Islamabad the way it was envisaged – clean and green.”