20000214

Soomro opens

WWF carnival

KARACHI: The industrial units are being pursued to establish treatment plants for disposal of their chemical waste so that the pollution which is nearing alarming level be checked.

This was said by Sindh Forest and Environment Minister Iftikhar Soomro on Sunday while inaugurating a Nature Carnival organised by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) Pakistan.

The minister said that the government would soon initiate a large scale drive against smoke-emitting vehicles and industries generating noise pollution and environmental magistrates and tribunals for the purpose have been notified by the government.

Soomro also urged the need for creating awareness among the school students about the environment issues. He also stressed the need for fixing a time frame for implementing a pollution control programme on mass level.

Sindh Irrigation and Water minister speaking on the occasion asked the NGO's and other concerned citizens to play their due role.

Sindh Environment and Forest Secretary Shamsul Haq Memon addressing on the occasion said that the Forest Department had taken steps to encourage tree plantation by people. He said the steps include establishment of nurseries, mobile nurseries in cities, towns and villages besides transfer of macro-plants to forests of Sindh and setting up of stall at weekly bazaars.

Brig Mukhtar Ahmed (Retd), President of WWF Ñ Pakistan, MD Talal Haider, Dr Ejaz Ahmed, Neelam Habib and other experts also addressed the gathering.

Later, the minister inaugurated the carnival and inspected various stall set up by the schools.ÑAPP