Reducing the damage done to the environment by the industrial sector is getting ever stronger a policy of the government. Now, when the environmental protection agencies (EPAs) face a withdrawal of their powers, in case of failing to implement environmental laws, the Ministry for Environment is going to necessitate setting up of effluent treatment plants for all industries.

The Federal Minister for Environment, Mr. Hamidullah Jan Afridi, on Wednesday (February 11, 2009), told the media that the provincial EPAs, which fail to deliver the amendments in EPA laws, will lose their powers to the central (federal) EPA. The primary feature of the new law makes it mandatory for all industries to establish an effluent treatment plant, monitored by the provincial EPAs. In case the latter fail to implement the environmental law, the federal EPA will act directly for implementation of the law.

It is anticipated that the law regarding effluent treatment plants will have been implemented by the end of the year 2009. Also specified in the new environmental law is the requirement for all hospitals to install incinerators for treating hospital waste. Calling waste treatment as a big challenge, Mr. Afridi told that up to nine solid waste treatment plants will be launched this year for a cleaner and health-friendly environment. These measures are in line with the current government’s declaration of the year 2009 as the National Year of Environment.