The Daily Times reported that the Capital Development Authority has refused to relocate the industrial units from sectors I 9, I 10 to sector I 17 as proposed by the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, arguing that the industry cannot be relocated to the proposed sector, since it is already in advance stages of development and it has been acquired for residential purposes.

The CDA informed the EPA and the federal environment ministry about its stance in a meeting convened by Mr Hameedullah Jan Afridi, federal minister of environment of Pakistan.

CDA officials said that after reviewing the plan submitted by the EPA around six weeks ago, they had reached the conclusion that since residential sectors were close to sector I 17, relocating industry there would create similar environment related problems that were being faced at its current location.

Earlier, the environment minister had approved a Pakistan EPA plan to relocate steel furnaces from sector I 9 and I 10 to new industrial zone. The decision was taken in view of increasing pollution caused by the industry.

Mr Afridi said that his ministry was concerned about the increasing levels of pollution in the capital and wanted to cut the hazardous industrial emissions. He added that his ministry did not want to negatively affect business activities in the country.

During the meeting, the CDA officials suggested that the industry may be shifted to some other area, for example a new industrial estate in Rawalpindi. The CDA officials assured the ministry of their full support to relocate the industry to Rawalpindi.

(Sourced from: Daily Times)