Industrial waste in the country disposed of in the rivers

According to the information made available to the National Assembly by the Minister Incharge of the Cabinet Secretariat, it is fact that most of the industrial waste in the country is being disposed of in the rivers, it is however informed that the subject of “environmental pollution and ecology” has been devolved to provinces after 18th amendment in the Constitution and now the provinces and their respective departments are responsible to implement the environmental laws. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency has taken the following steps:
i. Prior to the constitutional amendment the powers had been delegated to the Provincial Governments in terms of section 26 the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 for enforcement including the powers to monitor and prosecute industry for violation of the law.
ii. Notified sampling Rules 2001.
iii. Notified pollution charge for Industry Rules 2001.
iv. Establishment of water Quality monitoring system in 5 cities (Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta) comprising mobile laboratories and updating of analytical laboratories.
v. Establishment of Central Laboratory for Environmental Analysis and Networking (CLEAN) for air and water at sector H-8/2, Islamabad
vi. Held various meetings with industrial associations to comply National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQs).
vii. Customs duty rebate has been introduced as incentive on import of pollution control devices for industrialists. (b) No waste water treatment plant has been installed in Sindh during the last five year except the one in Kotri Industrial Area, Hyderabad which is not operational yet. (c) Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has got approved PC-1 of 04 effluent plants at the cost of Rs.8 Billion at Korangi, SITE Limited Area, Landhi and Federal B-Area. The case has been forwarded to Planning Commission of Pakistan for funding but no financial allocation has been made so far. 161.

Note: The above information is based on the question & sessions of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Please visit the official website of the National Assembly for details.

About National Assembly: The National Assembly of Pakistan is the country's sovereign legislative body. It embodies the will of the people to let themselves be governed under the democratic, multi-party Federal Parliamentary System. The National Assembly makes laws for the Federation in respect of the powers enumerated in the Federal Legislative list. Through its debates, adjournment motion, question hour and Standing Committees, the National Assembly keeps as check over the Executive and ensures that the government functions within the parameters set out in the Constitution and does not violate the fundamental rights of citizens. Only the National Assembly, through its Public Accounts Committee, scrutinizes public spending and exercises control of expenditure incurred by the government.

Tags: Pakistan, Economics, Business

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