KARACHI: Human rights, labour rights and environmental activists expressed serious concern about the deaths of 19 villagers near Moachh Goth in Keamari district and demanded the government close down all the illegal factories working in residential areas and causing threats to the human lives and environment of the city.
Speaking at an online consultation via Zoom, organized by The Knowledge Forum, the activists pointed out that the provincial government’s labour, environment and industries departments should be made accountable for how factories are working in residential areas.
The speakers pointed out that a large number of unregistered and illegal factories are operating in different residential areas of Karachi and the government has allowed them to operate without any checks. About seven to eight factories are operational in an old village called Ali Muhammad Goth without the approval of the government, said senior trade unions leader Nasir Mansoor of the National Trade Unions Federation.
According to him, no one knows how many workers are working in these factories, which are mainly processing plastic material or making chemicals. The deadly fumes coming out from these factories caused 18 deaths in the village. The labour department says the factories are not registered and there is no record of workers with the provincial labour department.
After the news about the deaths, the health department officials visited the area and found that many other people were affected by diseases. Sindh Environmental Protection Agency cannot be absolved from responsibilities for the environmental impact of the factory. The government claimed to have sealed three factories and arrested an owner of the factory. However, the affectees have not provided any compensation.
Ms Nargis Rahman of Karachi Citizens’ Forum said the overall air pollution in Karachi is alarmingly high which is posing danger to the lives of citizens. She said the Forum is going to hold a seminar on the Air Quality of Karachi at PMA house on Feb 6 in which experts from two universities will give a presentation.
Mr. Naeem Qureshi of the National Forum for Environment and Health said the government is not seriously tackling the environmental issues in the city. The other participant of the consultation demanded the government provide immediate relief and compensation to the affected people of the village and a high-level inquiry be conducted to fix responsibilities on the government departments. The government should take preventive measures to save lives from pollution.
The civil society activists decided to write letters to the concerned government departments regarding the incident and fix their responsibilities. The rights activists demanded the Chief Minister of Sindh order SEPA authorities to conduct the study.