Karachi: Sindh Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Faisal Ahmed Uqaili on Wednesday said that the environmental management system will be further strengthened to address environmental issues at their root, while all possible facilitation and support will be extended to the industrial sector.
Effective measures are being taken to improve coordination between the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and industry, with a focal person appointed to address complaints. A dedicated WhatsApp group will also be established for better coordination with the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
Addressing industrialists at KATI, Faisal Ahmed Uqaili said environmental projects would be pursued under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework with efforts to ensure their completion within stipulated timelines.
The meeting was attended by KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput, deputy patron-in-chief Zubair Chhaya, senior vice president Zahid Hameed, vice president Syed Muhammad Talha Ali, chairman of the Standing Committee Saleem-uz-Zaman, Director General SEPA Dr. Ashiq Ali Langah, Regional Director M. Imran Sabir, Deputy Director Sada Bux, Director Waris Ali Gabol, Karachi Centre for Climate Change representative Faryal Diwan, and other industrialists and KATI members.
The Sindh Environment Secretary said a SEPA deputy director had been appointed as the focal person who would not only act on complaints but also keep complainants informed about the status and progress of their cases.
He said a WhatsApp group for complaints had already been established, while a separate group would be created to improve communication and facilitate KATI.
Faisal Uqaili said the department had received six projects that would be taken forward under the PPP model. He also called for awareness sessions for stakeholders and the public on carbon financing.
Earlier, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said industrialists fully recognized the importance of controlling environmental pollution and protecting the environment, but effective implementation of environmental laws required practical guidance, reasonable time, technical support and effective coordination with relevant regulatory authorities.
He said the majority of industries in the Korangi Industrial Area were export-oriented and received international orders only after complying with international environmental standards and obtaining the required certifications. Most industries in Korangi, he added, strictly complied with both Pakistani and international environmental standards.
He pointed out that despite government assurances, wastewater treatment plants had not been established in the Korangi Industrial Area. However, major industrial units had installed treatment plants on a self-help basis.
He called for a practical and coordinated mechanism for establishing individual or collective wastewater treatment plants, particularly in areas where shared infrastructure would be more technically and financially feasible.
The KATI president proposed establishing a formal coordination mechanism between SEPA and KATI to coordinate inspection schedules, environmental awareness sessions, regulatory compliance and technical guidance.
KATI Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya said SEPA was an important institution and its laws were stringent, but instead of focusing solely on regulatory enforcement, the agency should also play the role of a guide and facilitator for industrialists so that all stakeholders could benefit.
He said the Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) system had been introduced nearly two decades ago, but despite the passage of considerable time, it had not become fully operational. Zubair Chhaya said around 75 to 80 percent of air pollution was caused by vehicular emissions, while industrial emissions accounted for approximately 20 to 25 percent.
Therefore, he stressed that SEPA should give equal attention to vehicular emissions along with industrial pollution.
He called for a balanced and facilitative policy instead of discriminatory treatment of industrialists and the business community, saying environmental protection and industrial development should continue hand in hand.
He further proposed establishing a one-window operation for environmental permits, approvals, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and other regulatory requirements to eliminate unnecessary delays, improve transparency and simplify the regulatory process.
Zubair Chhaya clarified that industrialists were not seeking any relaxation in environmental standards. Rather, they wanted a transparent, predictable and collaborative system that would ensure compliance with the law while allowing employment, investment, industrial development and economic growth to continue.
Chairman of KATI’s Standing Committee on Health, Safety and Environment Saleem-uz-Zaman said there could be no compromise on environmental protection, but more effective and practical mechanisms were needed to address environmental challenges and improve the existing compliance system.