KARACHI: Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Spokesperson to the Government of Sindh and Advisor to the Chief Minister on Law, Environment, Climate Change, and Coastal Development, has approved a proposal given by the Karachi business community to review Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014.
However, he said that the business community should cooperate in the implementation of the Sindh government’s environmental protection agenda and promote the recycling of goods and biodegradable plastic bags. The business community should abandon prohibited plastic bags and promote disposable and environmentally friendly plastic bags to make the ban on buying, selling, manufacturing, and use more effective.
Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day symposium organized by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on the topic of “Integrated Solid Waste Management”, the Environmental Adviser Murtaza Wahab said that the ban on non-degradable plastic bags was enacted last year. The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a full-fledged legal campaign to make it effective and action has been taken against the violators in this regard. However, during the lockdown to prevent corona, the said campaign turned milder that will now be resumed. He asked the business community to discourage the delivery, sale, and manufacture of prohibited plastic bags at all levels to eliminate the basis for its supply in the markets.
Approving Zubair Motiwala’s suggestion from the business community for a review of Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014, the Adviser said the government has no qualms if the business community wants to make further suggestions for effective enforcement of the laws. As we all know that the main purpose of this law is to ensure sustainable development in Sindh through prevention of environmental pollution and protection, preservation, rehabilitation, and improvement of the environment, no one should object to this point.
He directed the Secretary of Environment to set up a review committee within a week and said that the first meeting of the committee would be held in his office within a week after its formation. He said that due to unwarranted interrogation and round-ups, the performance of government agencies has been tarnished. Before launching a new project, any agency thinks many times that in case of failure, it is not accused of corruption. Our accountability agencies are waiting for an officer to make a mistake and when they start questioning him.
Wahab said that this is why the process of development has been limited and no government agency likes to move towards innovative methods and new ideas because it knows that in case of failure, the sincerity of its intentions will be questioned. Terming a miscalculation outright malicious is tantamount to blocking the path to far-reaching development. He said that mistakes are made by those who work in new ways for better results.
Those who don’t commit mistakes follow the herd instinct. He called on the business community to invest in recycling so that used items could be exploited to control the growing garbage menace and minimize the increase in waste. He further said that the Sindh Government is also going to legislate in this regard so that maximum incentives and facilities can be given to the recycling industry.
Replying to a question, Wahab said that all the taxes paid by the traders go to the federal exchequer. Despite this, the Sindh Government, through its resources, approved the repair and construction of 11 roads in the site industrial area. The first tranche of funds in this regard will be released soon.
Asked about rising inflation in the province, Wahab said it was true that it was the responsibility of the provinces to curb unjustified inflation. “But all commodities whose raw materials’ costs including electricity and gas charges are so higher. How can the prices of goods and services made from such raw materials come down due to the increase in prices? No trader will sell anything below cost, so the federal government should focus on lowering the prices of the factors of production. Costs that are controlled by the Federation should be brought to a reasonable level so that the provincial governments can bring the prices of goods and services made from them to an acceptable level.”
He termed the Prime Minister’s contact with the people by telephone as a publicity stunt, while referring to the Prime Minister’s statement that Sindh is not his own, the Environmental Adviser said that Sindh should not be his because the people of Sindh are democrats, principled and supportive of truth and right. So how come they should be of a selected Prime Minister. Leading business leaders Zubair Motiwala and Shariq Vohra also spoke on the occasion.
Secretary Environment, Climate Change, and Coastal Development Department, Government of Sindh Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, and Director General Sindh Environmental Protection Agency Naeem Ahmad Mughal were also present on the occasion.