Quetta: Adviser to Chief Minister for Environment and Climate Change Naseem-ur-Rehman Khan Mulakhel on Tuesday expressed strong anger over the violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ignoring environmental norms in the factories.
He said this while visiting the industrial area of Hub where he inspected various factories.
The Adviser directed the concerned authorities to immediately issue notices to all factories causing environmental pollution and take strict action against such elements.
Warning the factory owners, he said that they should adopt an environment-friendly policy, make effective arrangements for the discharge of industrial waste and wastewater so that no harm is caused to the local population and the environment.
Naseem-ur-Rehman Khan Mulakhel said that it is mandatory for all factories to obtain NOC from the Environment Department, while the factories whose NOCs have expired should immediately get theirs renewed from the EPA.
He also clarified that no factory would be allowed to operate without NOC.
He also instructed the officers present on the spot to conduct regular weekly visits to industrial areas and submit a detailed report on the environmental quality of the factories to the higher authorities.
He said that the Balochistan government is taking serious steps to protect the environment and public health and no negligence would be tolerated in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, the provincial adviser said that industrial development is important in its own right, but this development could never be tolerated at the cost of human health and the environment.
He said that if industrialists would not implement environmental laws, heavy fines and legal action could be taken against them.