Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Law, Climate Chang & Costal development Murtaza Wahab told the backlog of pilled garbage in Karachi would be cleared within 30 days, while he was addressing to a gathering of industrialists at Korangi Association of Trade & Industry (KATI) on Saturday. Patron in Chief of KATI SM Muneer, President Danish Khan, Senior Vice President Faraz-ur-Rehman, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, CEO KITE Zubair Chhaya, Head of KATI’s standing committee on environment Saleem Uzaman, Gulzar Feroz, Vice President Maheen Salman, Zahid Saeed and other also expressed their views on the occasion.
Advisor to CM Sindh said that maintaining cleanliness in city is the basic responsibility of city administration but the crisis has reached to such extent that CM Murad Ali Shah has taken a bold step and directed Deputy Commissioners of all districts in Karachi to bring a comprehensive plan to clear garbage form the city under “Saaf Karachi” Campaign.
He said CM had issued required funds for the drive and personally perusing the progress. He noted that recently a politically motivated campaign for cleaning in city had failed due to lack of planning. He said that our first target is to clear backlog of garbage from the city.
Prior to this SM Muneer said in his speech that he has warned many a times that if the garbage piles would not be removed from Karachi a drastic endemic can be spread in the city. He said that CM Sindh released funds for devolvement of industrial areas in Karachi and it was a commendable initiative. He also announced that as Patron in Chief of “Green Pakistan Program” 100 million trees will be planted all over the country.
President KATI Danish Khan said that Karachi was facing sever climate and infrastructure challenges and these should be addressed on war footings. He said that for environmental protection of Karachi KATI had decided to ban production of substandard polythene bags in Korangi Industrial area and the association will distribute paper and cloth bags for awareness. Head of KATI’s standing committee on environment Saleem Uzzman told the CM’ aid that with the collaboration of provincial and federal government 7 effluent treatment plants for industrial waste water have approved and collectively both governments had issued 4.5 bn rupees for the project, it was well received initiative. “But after that SEPA issued notices to industries for establishing their own treatment plant per unit. Industrialists do care about environment but due to financial crunch and heavy cost of these plants industries could afford them individually” he added. Gulzar Feroze suggested to activate advisory council of environment department to resolve such issues.
Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan and Zubair Chhaya showed deep concern over inefficiency of KWSB and demanded “big step” to reform the board. Zahid Saeed suggested an urban foresting project on Malir and Lyari river bed and offered to present a prepared presentation regarding the proposal.
While responding to Industrialists suggestion Murtaza Wahab directed to form a steering committee regarding concerns over environmental laws; consisting on Secretary Environment, DG SEPA and representatives of KATI. He said that a project of urban foresting on Malir and Lyari River bed already under consideration of CM Sindh and any suggestion would be welcomed in this regard. He also mentioned that Sindh government has been facing shortfall of 162 billion rupees while federal government hadn’t issued its share in NFC. He said that Green Line bus project is being delayed just because of unreleased funds by federation, Rs 10 million were required to complete the project but federal government allocated only 2.5 bn for this year. He said PM Khan vowed RS 162 bn development package for Karachi but not a single rupee of this didn’t issued till the date. Wahab stressed that as the people of Karachi ask Sindh Government to show ownership of Karachi, with the same zeal they should ask this question from the federal government of PTI.
Head of tree planting committee of FPCCI and KATI Junaid Naqi gave a multimedia presentation on plantation campaign in Korangi and DC Korangi Shehryar Memon told details of measures taken by district administration for the cleaning campaign announced by CM Sind.
Photo Caption: Patron-in-Chief KATI SM Muneer and President Danish Khan presenting shield to Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Law, Climate Chang & Costal development Murtaza Wahab. At the occasion Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Zubair Chhaya, Gulzar Firoz, faraz-ur-Rehman, Maheen Salman, Saleem-uz-Zaman and Jan Mohammad are also present.