The Nation reported that the issue of industrial pollution in Sector I-9 remains unresolved, as Capital Development Authority has backed off from its words for relocation of steel furnaces from the Sector.

Some 4 months back, the Authority had pledged with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency that within 6 weeks it would indicate new zone in Sector I-17 for shifting steel furnaces from Sector I-9.

Sources, however, informed that CDA was reluctant in shifting steel furnaces to Sector I-17, as it feared intervention of Senate Standing Committee on Environment. The CDA has assured the Committee that it would not allow any pollution emitting industry near the I-16 residential sector.

Mr Asif Shuja DG of Pak EPA also complained about CDA’s reluctance in relocation of pollution emitting industries from the heart of the capital city. He said that “I called on former CDA Chief Mr Tariq Mehmood twice to discover some way out of this situation but to no avail.”

Mr Shuja said that Pak-EPA resorted to take direct action against the industrial units emitting hazardous smokes and filed cases against two steel furnaces in Environmental Tribunal, Lahore. The Tribunal has taken up the cases and has conducted 2 hearings so far, DG Pak-EPA informed.

He further said that the Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry was negotiating with government of Punjab to mark a piece of land outside Islamabad’s territory for the said industry. Office bearers of the Chambers would shortly meet the Punjab Chief Minister in this connection.

(Sourced from the Nation)