WWF-Pakistan believes the ship breaking industry in Gadani
area of Balochistan threatens marine life with unchecked discharge of toxic
waste into Arabian Sea. A technical advisor on Marine Fisheries at
WWF-Pakistan, Muhammad Moazzam Khan, said "Gadani is a part of Sonmiani
which is considered to have a rich marine biodiversity especially around Churna
and Kaio Islands."
WWF-Pakistan believes the ship
breaking industry in Gadani area of Balochistan threatens marine life with
unchecked discharge of toxic waste into Arabian Sea. A technical advisor on
Marine Fisheries at WWF-Pakistan, Muhammad Moazzam Khan, said "Gadani is a
part of Sonmiani which is considered to have a rich marine biodiversity
especially around Churna and Kaio Islands."
He warned that dumping of toxic
waste may seriously hurt the fragile ecosystem of the area. WWF-Pakistan has
urged the concerned environmental departments to step up against the toxic
chemicals laden vessels brought to Gadani ship breaking industry for
dismantling to protect the marine life.
Showing concerns it said that the
unplanned construction such as Gadani fish harbour already had serious impact
on the area's environment - which is also designed as energy corridor. It
feared the construction of power plants may also hurt the marine environment of
the entire area if proper measures were not taken. Director, WWF-Pakistan, Rab
Nawaz, called upon Federal Board of Revenue, Port Authorities, Balochistan
Environmental Protection Agency and Pakistan Customs to help reduce import of
vessels laden with toxics to protect environment.
An international watchdog
organisation - Ship breaking Platform has asked the South and Southeast Asian
nations to halt importing damaged and toxic laden ships for dismantling. The
WWF-Pakistan has supported the call by the platform and urged the local
importers to avoid berthing hazardous vessels to the country's coasts.
Source:
business recorder. 5 October 2013
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