FAISALABAD: One-point agenda to control environmental pollution is imperative not only for the sustained socio-economic development but also for the survival of the coming generations, said Provincial Environment Minister Zakia Shahnawaz Khan.
She was addressing a meeting in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI). She paid best tribute to the business community of Faisalabad who has been playing a pivotal role in the overall economic development of Pakistan despite of serious challenges and hurdles.
Commenting on the environmental issues, she said that business community alone cannot be held responsible for the environmental related issues. She said that developed countries themselves attained progress at the cost of environmental pollution but now they are expecting form the under developed and developing countries to fully adhere to the environmental rules and regulations.
She said that Pakistani industry is not polluting the atmosphere but they have to suffer because of the industrial pollution created by the adjoining regional countries. Continuing, she said that despite of these facts we have to make conscious efforts to control environmental pollution which has emerged as one of the serious threat to humanity and to the mother earth. She categorically announced that Environment Department is not meant to victimize the industrial sector but at the same time we have to take care of the excessive carbon emission which has plagued our atmosphere and was disturbing the ecosystem. Similarly, the industrial effluent is yet another major cause of pollution and due to it, the river Ravi has been turned in to an open drain of waste water.
Zakia Shahnawaz Khan said that we all are responsible of this situation and we have to resolve it without depending upon the others. She directed the business community of Faisalabad to form a committee comprising of all stakeholders and present viable proposals within a period of one month to resolve the issue in a holistic manner. She further said that it is also imperative to save our exports from any possible curbs or bans by the developed countries. She also announced that the next meeting of this committee will be held in APTPMA very soon to identify the core issues along with its viable and practicable solution.
Secretary Environment Iqbal Muhammad Chohan also addressed the function and explained government’s strategy to control the environment pollution.
Earlier, in his address of welcome FCCI President Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz said that Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry is elected representative trade body of business community of Faisalabad. The government is forced to listen to its proposals because of its economic importance, he added
Senior Vice President Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain pinpointed the three major issues including shifting of local industry from congested urban areas, installation of water treatment plants and environmental related issues. He further told that Faisalabad is not included among the first hundred most polluted cities of the world but it is being treated harshly. He said that Environment Department should take necessary steps to facilitate the business community instead of harassing them by issuing notices.
Earlier, Chaudhary Muhammad Boota, Rana Sikandar-e-Azam, Aamir Sleemi, Manzoor Khan, Sanaullh Khan Niazi and Mian Abdul Waheed took part in the question answer session while executive member Ahmad Hasan offered vote of thanks to the participants of the meeting.
Later, Sheikh Khalid Habib along with Rana Ihtsham Javed, Haji Talib Hussain and Habib Ahmed Gujjar presented FCCI shield to Zakia Shahnawaz Khan.
