Workbook EPC

8/3/2019 Workbook EPC

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Enviromental Protection &

Control

B.E Chemical Engineering

Batch: 2007-08

D e p a r t m e n t o f C h e m i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g

Adil Gohar

CH-020


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Environment, environment,environment

Ardeshir Cowasjee

May 22, 2011

With the accelerating degradation of Pakistan`s physical and social

environs, spawned by the twin demons of an exploding population and

escalating consumerism, leading to violent conflicts over dwindling

resources, our national slogan must become `Environment, environment,

environment`. Unless we take radical steps to relieve the extreme stress

that our ecology is experiencing, the future will be even grimmer thanexpected.

The environment is under attack by industrialists (improper disposal of solid

waste, dirty air emissions, toxic effluents into sewers), municipalities

(poisonous solid, liquid and gas discharges), electricity generation,

transportation, builders/developers, timber mafias, land grabbers

virtually everyone.

The rich and powerful, patronised by politicians and bureaucrats, reap

maximum profits destroying the environment, and then donate to charitable

and religious causes. The escalating damage inflicted on the poor and

helpless by environmental vandalism, political/economic opportunism,

cartelisation, hoarding, food-price manipulation, unjust salaries, tax evasion

and the like cannot be repaired with philanthropy. Asian Green City Index

Pakistan is well on the way to evolving into one large garbage dump-cum-cesspool. With an unchecked population of some 185 million (36 per cent

urban), projected to reach 225 million (40 per cent urban) by 2020 and 265

million (46 per cent urban) by 2030, we bottomed the rankings of the ,(a


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Siemens AG study carried out by the independent Economist Intelligence

Unit to evaluate sustainability of 22 mega cities).

Topping the ratings of the `well above average` group is Singapore (that

fortunate city-state whose prime minister attributed governance success to

his initial resolve that Singapore, not Lee Kwan Yu, will become rich).

Karachi (that unfortunate urban conglomeration of a country of which the

president, government and administration resolved the exact opposite of Mr

Lee) lingers in the lowest `well-below average` category. Assessment of

heavy-metal toxicants in the roadside soil along the N-5 National Highway,

Pakistan

In February 2011, the Pakistan Council ofScientific and Industrial

Research published a report, based on the sampling of nine sites

between Lahore and Karachi. The levels of carcinogenic toxic metals,

especially lead (from fuels, paints) and mercury (from hospital waste,

discarded batteries, switches, fluorescent lamps, `energy-savers`) was 45

times the acceptable level.

This contamination is transferred by rain runoff to agricultural fields andwater supplies, it is inhaled by passersby, and ingested through the food

chain. The levels of contaminants inside cities are estimated to be much

higher.

The Turkish power-barge anchored off Karachi`s Korangi coast is belching

pollutants over millions of residents in this highly polluted city. The air-

dispersion modelling in the SEPA-approved EIA fraudulently showed

furnace oil emissions travelling towards the creek, even though theprevailing wind is in the opposite direction towards land.

The engine-cooling system of the generators exacerbates the already

excessive 7oC seawater temperature rise (illegally generated by KESC`s

power station), destroying marine life and fishermen`s livelihoods: the law


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limits rise to 3oC. Most KESC,WAPDA and IPP generating stations

countrywide are operating in violation of environmental codes.Earlier this

month, the press reported that 2,238 industries in Sindh were served

notices for violating environmental laws, including 240 that were put underclose surveillance for posing a threat to the environment. So is it any

wonder that we feel that political influence will prevent any meaningful

action?

Energy is being wastefully consumed in Pakistan because it is cheap.

Lately, petrol prices (dollars per gallon) in various countries were: Saudi

Arabia $0.85, Iran $2.58, Pakistan $4, US $4, India $5.70, Germany $7.50,

UK $9.50, Turkey $10. Energy efficiency is furthest from our minds.Alternative fuels (solar, wind, coal, etc) may never take off because, under

pressure from the oil lobby, the government refuses to transfer subsidies.

Four hundred million gallons of untreated sewage are dumped every day

into the creeks, rivers and seas around Karachi. This is decimating marine

life and adversely affecting the fishing and tourism industries. The

expansion land of two sewage-treatment plants in the city (Gutter

Baghicha, Mahmoodabad) has been grabbed by political criminals. TheSindh EPA, KWSB and Industries Department spar over who should grab

the most `goodies` from the four combined effluent treatment plants to be

constructed in industrial estates around the city. Defying Supreme Court

directives, toxic solid in Karachi`s industrial areas continues to be dumped

in the open, as in other cities in Sindh. The sewerage situation in the cities

of the other provinces is no better, resulting in pollution of rivers and water

bodies. Airsheds around industrial and urban areas are heavily polluted.

The under-funded and understaffed EPAs in all four provinces are

essentially doing nothing. Serving notices, filing unsubstantiated cases in

tribunals, and giving flowery press statements is a cover for the harassment


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and extortion they impose on polluters in business and industry: the

municipalities get away scot-free.

This column has previously emphasised the close nexus between the

deteriorating environment and the social decay and terrorism that Pakistan

is experiencing. World Environment Day comes this year on June 4. Will

we continue with `business as usual`, splattering the newspapers with

meaningless platitudes from presidents, governors and ministers, telling us

all is fine and hunky-dory? Do we just sit back and hope for the best, or

take the other way out of our predicament?

Conclusion:


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Environment: Warming up

By Rina Saeed Khan

January 2, 2011

The massive flooding that hit Pakistan in the summer of 2010 has drawn the worlds

attention to the adverse effects of climate change on this region. At the UN Climate Change

Conference 2010 held recently in Cancun, the Pakistani floods were highlighted in several

speeches and sessions. The Pakistani delegation also held a side-event in Cancun on the

Worlds most devastating floods: Pakistans extreme climate event.

According to a report released in Cancun by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO),global warming caused the extreme Asian summer monsoon which resulted in such heavyrainfall this year. The report states that the year 2010 is almost certain to rank in the top threewarmest years since the beginning of instrumental climate records in 1850. The WMO adds that

recent warming has been especially strong in Africa, and parts of Asia and the Arctic.

There is a paragraph in the report describing Pakistans floods: Pakistan experienced the worstflooding in its history as a result of exceptionally heavy monsoon rains. The event principallyresponsible for the floods occurred from July 26-29, when four-day rainfall totals exceeded 300millimetres over a large area of northern Pakistan centered on Peshawar. There were additionalheavy rains further south from August 2-8 which reinforced the flooding. The total monsoonseason rainfall for Pakistan was the fourth-highest on record.

This information for 2010 is based on climate data from networks of land-based weather andclimate stations, ships and buoys, as well as satellites. Pakistans Met Office also contributed to

the data according to Qamar-uz-Zaman Choudhry, who is currently serving as Vice President ofthe Asian division of the WMO (he has been elected for four years). In fact, the WMO hadrelocated their regional office from Bahrain to Pakistan from October 1 to November 15, 2010 toassist Pakistans Met Office. They had also sent an expert mission to Pakistan for a week tohave extensivediscussions with relevant authorities on how to strengthen the early warning system heexplained.

Mr Choudhry has recently been appointed an Advisor on climate affairs by Pakistans Ministryof Environment and is drafting Pakistans first national policy on climate change. It will includesections on agriculture, disaster management, energy and forest protection. The draft has been

submitted to the relevant stakeholders for suggestions and input and should be finalised inJanuary. The cabinet now has to approve it. Pakistan ranks very low amongst the list ofgreenhouse gas emitting countries, so its focus is primarily on adaptation. The country expectsfunding from the newly announced global Green Climate Fund for adaptation.

This will entail how to deal with changes impacting Pakistan, like monsoon variability, sea-levelrise in coastal areas, and glacial melt in the high mountains. A high level report released by theUN Environment Programme in Cancun stated that The third fastest rate of loss is among


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glaciers in the northwest United States and southwest Canada followed by ones in the highmountains of Asia, including the Hindu Kush and Himalayas.

This will affect water flows into the main rivers dependent on these glaciers like the Indus.

According to the Deputy Director General, International Centre for Integrated MountainDevelopment (ICIMOD), Without doubt the main driving force behind the rapid melting ofHimalayan glaciers and formation of the catastrophic Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) iswarming due to climate change. The risk to lives and livelihoods in the fragile Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is high and getting higher. Immediate action by the global community onlaunching long-term adaptation and resilience-building programmes is urgently needed.

The report also calls for more investment in glacial research and monitoring and run off intorivers. Pakistan is one of the first countries in line to get funding from the smaller UNFramework Convention on Climate Changes Adaptation Fund for a project on reducing risk andvulnerabilities from Glacier Lake Outburst Floods in the Northern Areas by building human and

technical capacities of local communities.

While this is good news for Pakistan, what is urgently needed is an overall action plan foradaptation across the country. Once the national policy on climate change has been approved bythe cabinet, the next step should be a specific action plan to be implemented immediately. Weneed a list of concrete measures with time lines; without this the national policy will degenerateinto an unachievable wish list.

CONCLUSION:


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Pakistan makes headway on environment

issues

By Our Staff ReporterJanuary 30, 2011

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Pakistan has achieved 100 per cent reduction target for the import

and consumption of first generation of ozone depleting chemicals with the help of industrial

community and other concerned national and international partners.

We are now successfully heading towards the stage to phase out other substances like HCFCs,Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Director-General Dr Bashir said. He said the EPA lawswere being implemented in letter and spirit and all possible measures were being taken to savethe environment which was directly affecting social and ecological systems.

He was speaking at a `Workshop for Youth Awareness on Ozone Layer and Montreal ProtocolActivities in Pakistan` here on Saturday.

Joint Secretary (IC) National Project Director (Ozone Cell), Ministry of Environment, Abid Alisaid the object of this workshop was to develop awareness among the youth about the depletionof the ozone layer and to update all activities related to Montreal Protocol in Pakistan. He saidexcessive depletion of ozone layer due to release of man-made chemicals such aschlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Halons, carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and methyl bromide causedthinning of ozone layer.

This has started to affect the life and environment. In order to fulfill Pakistan`s commitmentsunder the Montreal Protocol, the Ozone Cell, Ministry of Environment, has played a major rolewith the cooperation of national and international partners for replacing the use of ozonedepleting substances in foam, refrigeration, metal cleaning and fire-fighting industries.

Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi has said ozone layer is essential forlife on earth, but unfortunately it has being affected due to a few man-made chemicals.

Some 196 member countries of the world have signed the Montreal Protocol which shows thecommitment of the entire world to tackle this core issue. The global warming and climatechanges have become a reality and we in the developing countries are most vulnerable. It is

encouraging to see that world community has decided to face this menace collectively. Severalprotocols like the Kyoto Protocol have been signed to limit the emissions of green house gasesand minimize the worse impacts of climate changes, said Hameedullah Jan Afridi, adding thatflood last year were ample proof of extreme climatic conditions caused by global warming thatexposed vulnerabilities to it.


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CONCLUSION:


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We already have Euro-III emission standard cars running on our roads Hondas and Toyotasexcept Suzukis Pre-Euro Mehran and Bolan besides other models and the manufacturers areminting money by selling garbage to the innocent people, said a senior official with theMinistry of Environment.

According to the official, in their meetings between Ministries of Environment and Commerceand concerned stakeholders it was clearly decided that vehicles below Euro-III emissionstandards would not be permitted into Pakistan.

This was approved by the Cabinet and published it in the Import Policy Order 2009, said thesourceHowever, a senior official with the Commerce Ministry dispelled the impression that it wasviolating laws and said: It was Mr Afridis office that wrote to us to bring down emissionstandards from Euro-III to Euro-II. We received their letter in which they voiced their concern.We are writing back to them and attaching their recommendations to remind them that it wastheir call and that Pakistan was not producing the particular fuel for Euro-III cars.

He also made it clear that the condition was only applicable to heavy diesel vehicles and thatthere never were any restrictions applicable on small/family cars.

Ministry of Environment denied these allegations and was expecting a response from theCommerce Ministry in writing.

CONCLUSION:


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of growing population. Deforestation is resulting in global warming. Trees not only provideoxygen, but also beautify the environment.

A large number of people are chopping down trees to use wood as a fuel to cook food.

Although Balochistan provides natural gas to the country from Sui, ironically it is badly affectedby deforestation as a number of cities do not have natural gas to cook food.

As Balochistan is deprived of natural gas, people have no option but to use wood as fuel in theirhouseholds.

Some people are also involved in cutting trees for their personal gains and businesses likemaking furniture and sport goods.I request the government to provide Balochistan natural gas which is its right.

It will also stop deforestation in the province.

BILAL NOOR BOLANIBolan

CONCLUSION:


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Environment: Climate change realities

ByB.Khan

April 3, 2011

The short-term memory has already classified the winter of 2010-2011 as both long and

cold in the majority of the country whichfollowing as it did on the heels of a few years of

relatively mild wintersit may well have seemed to be. Yet, in reality, it was nothing of thesort, serving instead to further highlight the dangers of unfolding climate change.

Winter has traditionally always begun during mid-November and run through until at least theend of February in the plains and a month or so longer in upland areas of the country with theshort spring. March and April follow by five months of summer, turning to autumn in Septemberin the hills and at the beginning of October in the plains. This pattern, however, has undergone a

drastic change over the last 10 to15 years and is having a knock-on affect on both the agriculturaland horticultural sectors. Plus, it has also increased demands for electricity and gas which, as adirect result of this climate change, are in increasingly short supply.

The four seasons of the year now run something like this: the winterJanuary through February;the springMarch. The summer starts in April till the end of October and the autumn beginningin November to the end of December. This trend towards shorter winter, almost nonexistentspring, very long summer and late, compressed autumn also includes more extreme climateeventsin the form of storms, flooding and extended periods of droughtthan earlier weatherpatterns underwent what is, in climate terms, an extremely rapid alteration. This phenomenon, ifit continues at this pace, will, within the next 10-15 years diminish winter and autumn even

further, delete spring completely and leave the country subject to an almost permanent summerbeset by periodic, intensive storms be they wet storms or dry ones.

This potentially devastating alteration of seasons is obviously not confined to Pakistan alone: it isa global phenomenon although the lengthening and shortening of specific seasons differs fromcontinent to continent depending on latitude and longitude. But the overall effect on foodproduction remains roughly the same.

What this means for food security in Pakistan is worrying indeed as longer, hotter summerswhen, according to scientific experts, monsoons may or may not arrive and if they do, are liableto be of high intensity over a shortened time span, will adversely impact agricultural and

horticultural production across the board. Farmers are already facing problems in this respect astraditional sowing times of traditional crops grown in traditional areas often no longer apply.

Generally speaking, sowing can be performed earlier than has been the practice for precedinggenerations but, particularly in barani areas that are heavily dependent on rainfall patterns, thispromptly leads to complications as rain fall patterns have not moved forward in line with sowingtimes. If a farmer sows his crops according to currently emerging weather patterns he may well


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Study reveals cost of nitrogen pollution

AFPApril 11, 2011

LONDON: Nitrogen pollution costs Europe between 70 and 320 billion euros ($100bn-

$460bn) per year in its impact on health and the environment, according to a major

European study launched in Britain on Monday.

The first European Nitrogen Assessment, the result of a five-year research programme, foundthat the costs represented more than double the benefits for the continents agriculture sector.

The study was carried out by 200 experts from 21 countries and 89 organisations, who came upwith recommendations on how to reduce the amount of nitrogen in water, the air, the earth and

ecosystems.

The invention of synthethic fertiliser in the early 20th century revolutionised agriculture,multiplying yields and improving quality.

However, the amount of nitrogen in the environment has doubled on the world level, and tripledin Europe.

ENA coordinator Mark Sutton said: More than half the worlds population relies on syntheticnitrogen fertiliser for food production, but measures are necessary to reduce the impact ofnitrogen pollution.

The solutions include more efficient usage of mineral and organic fertiliser (manure, liquidmanure and compost) and eating habits aimed at more moderate meat consumption.

We have the know-how to reduce nitrogen pollution, but we must start applying these solutionsat the European level in an integrated way.

The event in the Scottish capital will bring together scientists and policy makers to launch theENA and discuss the latest scientific progress on nitrogen.

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PCSIR prepares water purification sachet

APPApril 18, 2011

LAHORE: The Pakistan Council of Science and Industrial Research (PCSIR) has prepared asachet to clean contaminated water up to the standard set by the WHO.

Talking to APP here on Monday, sources said that each sachet costs Rs 5 and can adequatelyclean five litres of water, preventing water borne diseases. The purified water can be used fordrinking and cooking purposes and is safe for preparing baby food.

The manufacturing capacity of PCSIR is around 5,000 sachets per day that may be enhanced asper requirements and its technology is transferable as well, sources added. The council has

distributed 1,000 sachets among flood victims after 2010s floods.

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Pakistans first climate change policy ready

Suhail YusufMay 26, 2011

ISLAMABAD: After being devastated by the most severe flood in history, Pakistan has

formally approved its first draft of the climate change policy.

In fact Pakistan is among the few developing countries which has prepared such acomprehensive national policy on a subject which is on top of the global priority agenda may beafter war on terror, said Dr Qamaruzaman Chaudhary, former director general ofMeteorological Department of Pakistan and leading author of the policy.

The policy draft has already been accepted by the countrys Ministry of Environment and is

ready for the cabinets approval.

In 2008, the Climate Change Task Force was formed for the policy draft. Some 40 experts fromdifferent but related fields strived for two years to finalise it. The task force also consultedfederal and provincial agencies, organisations and other experts.

The country has diverse ecosystems which include coastlines, deserts, arid zones, mountains andglaciers. These areas are in danger due to population growth, lack of planning andmismanagement.

For Pakistan, climate change is a reality as data of temperature from the last 100 years shows a

visible increase in heat. It is also among the top countries vulnerable to climate change.

Particularly, during the last two decades, extreme weather events like heavy rains, heat anddroughts have increased, Chaudhary said.

This pattern of extreme weather could be noticed in Thar. The region is an arid zone wheredrought arrives after every three years, and may stay put for 12 months or more.But there is a harsh twist in this pattern: the third drought in the cycle tends to be longer andmore severe than the first two and parches the land for three years. This triggers the massmigration of locals to the other green areas.

The policy from aims to implementations

The main objective of the policy is to sustain economic growth by addressing the challenges ofclimate change.

The sectors of water resources, agriculture, human health, forestry, biodiversity and others arealso among the top priorities along with the areas of mountains, pastures, marine and coastal eco-systems. The policy is to also to be integrated by other related policies.


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CONCLUSION:


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one that are pushed by the local political patronage, leading to a series of haphazard,unstructured and ineffective flood protection schemes at a heavy financial cost on the nationalexchequer.

The judicial commission said: The current and previous chairmen of FFC are accountable for

their failed stewardship of the commission since 1977. The country does not have an integratedflood management plan; this omission is criminal and its chairmen must be held accountable forit.

The federal government must hold a detail audit of the FFC by a panel of experts, includingmembers from civil society, to assess the performance of the FFC since its inception. Why hasthe FFC failed to develop a flood management plan and continued to approve localised floodsector schemes without first assessing their need in the larger context of the flood managementplan?

The FFC needs to be pulled out of its cocoon; it is not to act as a lame secretariat or a post

office for PIDs (provincial irrigation departments), but assume its real role of a principal floodsector authority of the country.

It is recommended that the federal government must ensure that the FFC develops the first-everNational Flood Management Plan before the start of the next flood season and shares it withflood managers of the provinces.

The Federal Flood Commission simply rubberstamps flood sectors schemes prepared at the endof every flood season by zonal officers of the irrigation department. This is not the role of FFC.The federal government must immediately pull up this apex flood institution to perform its roleunder the law.

The judicial commission also criticised the federal government and said: We notice with deepconcern that the National Water Policy is still a draft and has been awaiting approval since 2005.Additionally, the National Flood Protection Plan-IV (2008-18) has not been approved. Thisgovernmental and perhaps bureaucratic inertness is most disturbing and can be listed as a causebehind the recent devastation.

The commission called for early development of a flood plain management plan as part of thelarger integrated flood management plan.

Flood plains must be clearly zoned and demarcated. Inhabitants and built up structures within

the flood plains be subjected to special regulation which ensures extra protection for their lifeand property, the commission said.


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Roads, flyovers playing havoc with

environment, court told

Bureau ReportAugust 3, 2011

PESHAWAR, Aug 2: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday put on notice the Peshawar

Development Authority (PDA), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) and provincial ministry of environment in a writ petition challenging some

mega projects in the provincial capital terming it environmentally unsafe.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Shahjehan Khan Yousafzai and Justice Nisar HussainShah issued the notices after preliminary hearing of the petition filed by the Citizens for CleanEnvironment (CCE), a group of civil society organisations.

The petitioner stated that the ongoing developmental projects of road widening and flyovers onthe University Road and G.T. Road were taking a toll on the remaining few old trees and greenbelts in Peshawar.

The CCE comprises of Kalash Environmental Protection Society, Frontier Heritage Trust,Sarhad Conservation Network, Gandhara Hindko Board, De Laas Gul and Institute of Architectsof Pakistan.

Advocate Syed Haziq Ali Shah appeared for the petitioner and requested the bench to stop workon these projects till final disposal of the writ petition. He contended that the government had not

conducted the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and the Environmental ImpactAssessment (EIA) of these mega projects which was in violation of section 12 of the PakistanEnvironmental Protection Act, 1997.

He contended that the government had to submit a preliminary environmental review of thereasonably foreseeable qualitative and quantitative impacts on the environment of a proposedproject to determine whether it was likely to cause an adverse environmental effect.

Mr Shah contended that for the last over five months the post of chairperson of theenvironmental protection tribunal had been lying vacant since the then incumbent, MussaratHilali, was made the federal ombudsperson over sexual harassment. He added that the petitioner

would have approached that tribunal, but as it was presently non-functional, therefore the presentpetition was filed.

The respondents in the petition are the ministry of local government through its secretary,provincial ministry of environment through its secretary, the Peshawar Development Authoritythrough its director general and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agencythrough its director general.


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The petitioner stated that the local government minister never got tired of talking about Rs8billion development projects including road widening and flyovers in Peshawar district but infact such projects threatened the physical and mental welfare of the citizens as these deprivethem of green belts and trees sustaining a healthy environment.

The CCE said a huge USAID fund meant for the uplift of historical gardens was being misusedowing to lack of professional advice.

It is stated that the government had totally forgotten that Peshawar had over 3,000 year oldheritage and they were committing a crime by disfiguring and ruining its aesthetic and historicidentity. It is added that these projects would also affect the centuries old City Wall, which was aheritage of the inhabitants of the city.

CONCLUSION:


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Asia is likely to face the same problems, Rodman said.

It will truly be exacerbated in this region because of the urban densities that are there. Youvegot tremendous numbers of highly concentrated urban areas, he said.

The needs of the regions agricultural sector can also affect power supplies.

In 2008, 2.2 billion cubic metres of water were diverted from three major hydroelectric plants inVietnam for agriculture, leading to a shortfall of 430 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, Black& Veatch said.

Research is continually being carried out on water treatment technologies that require less energyas well as power-generation facilities that would need less water, experts said.

Advanced technologies to treat polluted water as well as recycle water from toilets, kitchen sinksand sewers for use in homes and industries will help address Asias future needs, they said.

Companies like Siemens Water Technologies are doing research aimed at integratingdesalination an energy-intensive process to purify seawater with solar power.

Rodman said encouraging people to change their consumption patterns of water and energy byhelping them understand the link between the two is equally important.

Gone are the days when water is independent from energy, he said.

CONCLUSION:


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Breaches in LBOD blamed for colossal

damage

Bureau Report | From the NewspaperOctober 3, 2011

HYDERABAD: Leaders of public opinion have blamed governments inefficiency for

breaches, both man-made and natural, in the Left Bank Outfall Drain and other saline

water drains, which have devastated 21 districts of the province and affected about 15

million people.

Speaking at a conference convened by the Awami Tehrik (AT) at the Mumtaz Mirza Auditoriumof Sindh Museum here on Sunday, they said thousands of villages had been destroyed and theprovince had suffered losses to the tune of billions of rupees.

On an average 30 to 40 people were dying of hunger and diseases every day while about 700,000displaced people were living in camps and many others in the open, they said citing a report ofthe National Disaster Management Authority.

They said three million people were suffering from diseases and nine million heads of cattle hadperished in rain-related incidents.

Referring to a UN report, the speakers said there would be a catastrophe if the affected peoplewere not provided succour on an emergency basis.

The speakers included ATs leader Rasool Bux Palijo, chairman Ayaz Latif Palijo, Ghulam NabiMughal, Anwar Memon and Ms Afroze Shoro.

Resolutions adopted at the conference demanded that all districts and union councils affected byrains should be declared calamity-affected and all the displaced people be provided food andmedical facilities.

One of the resolutions called for transparency in distribution of relief goods and ending the roleof MNAs, MPAs, Waderas and bureaucrats in the distribution.

The conference demanded payment of adequate compensation to the affected people and said

rain-hit farmers should be given free of cost seeds, fertiliser and agricultural machinery andshould be exempted from land revenue, water charges and bank loans.

Another resolution appealed to the Supreme Court to take notice of the flawed design of theLBOD and fix responsibility.

It said the rain affected-people should be provided free electricity for six months and studentsshould be exempted from fees.


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Stagnant rainwater should be drained out on a war footing and all encroachments in and alongwater ways should be removed.

The conference said the affected people should be settled in Hyderabad and Karachi. It termedPakistan Card and financial aid of Rs20,000 a cruel joke. It demanded that each affected family

should be paid at least Rs500,000.

STP meeting

The Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party has blamed flawed design of the LBOD for the colossal damagecaused by heavy rains in 21 district of the province.

A meeting of the central executive council of the STP chaired by Dr Qadir Magsi on Sundaycriticised what it described as insensitivity and callousness of the government and national andprovincial disaster management authorities.

The meeting urged the government to declare Sindhi national language and the only officiallanguage in Sindh and said Sindhi should be taught as a compulsory subject in all private schoolsof the province.

The meeting demanded that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement should be declared a terroristorganisation and banned.

It expressed no confidence in the ongoing Rangers operation in Karachi. It advised thegovernment to expel terrorists recruited in the police department.

CONCLUSION:


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Documents

Workbook EPC