Mr Muhammad Nauman Saigal, advisor to Chief Minister, Government of Sindh, on Environment & Alternate Energy & IT has urged tanners and industrialists based in the Korangi Industrial Area of Karachi—which houses some tanneries—to comply with international environmental standards when disposing of effluent.

Addressing members of the Korangi Association on March 8, he stated that whilst he appreciated the steps taken by the Pakistan Tanners’ Association (PTA), the Environmental Society (Southern Zone), in setting up a Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) —which is expected to be inaugurated in April—international standards had to be met.

Mr Gulzar Firoz, chairman, Korangi Association of Trade & Industries, has urged the Sindh Government to plan a project for the disposal of solid waste in the Korangi Industrial Area. He also requested that individual companies not be approached directly, but that notices be issued to the Korangi Association concerning the implementation of environmental law in the area. He also commented on the fact that the Federal government had proposed establishing three CETPs in Karachi Industrial areas, but that no progress had been reported and appealed for this project to become a priority issue.