Karachi, On World Environment Day, the Sindh government committed to tightening environmental regulations and ensuring compliance to decrease pollution levels. This pledge was made by Environment Minister Dost Muhammad Rahimoon during an interactive dialogue organized by the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH), focusing on sustainable development and environmental protection.
According to National Forum of Health and Environment, Minister Rahimoon outlined various initiatives aimed at enhancing environmental governance. These include supporting the installation of combined effluent treatment plants in Karachi’s industrial zones and demanding stricter adherence to environmental laws by municipal bodies to prevent the discharge of solid waste into the sea. Rahimoon also mentioned that the Sindh government spends Rs 29 billion annually to facilitate waste management in Karachi and Hyderabad, emphasizing the need for better waste management practices across all municipal jurisdictions.
The dialogue also featured insights from Prof. Dr. Noman Ahmed, who highlighted the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Karachi and linked them to flawed urban planning and the reduction of green spaces. He criticized the construction of high-rise buildings on small plots and the unchecked expansion of gated communities at the expense of farmland and wildlife sanctuaries.
Senior environmentalist Saqib Ejaz Hussain raised concerns about Karachi’s dwindling green cover, now purportedly below one percent, urging immediate action to enhance tree planting in the city. Moreover, the Sindh government’s efforts in mangrove plantation were acknowledged as a positive step towards improving the marine environment.
Other speakers, including Gulzar Feroze and Shabina Faraz, called for the construction of more effluent treatment plants and effective bans on polythene bags to prevent clogging of the city’s drainage system. Naeem Qureshi, President of NFEH, advocated for the expansion of environmental and urban planning initiatives throughout Sindh for sustainable development.