Steel mills asked to follow environmental standards

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD: Environment Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi on Thursday directed the capital steel industries to fully comply with environmental standards.

“Steel industry located in Islamabad Industrial Area must ensure environmental compliance,” the minister directed owners during a visit to M/s Pak-Iron and Steel and M/s Ittehad Steel Mills in Sector I-9.

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) director general (DG), The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) president, representatives of Steel Mills Association and the owners of local steel furnaces accompanied the minister.

The representatives of steel mills briefed the minister on observance of the environmental standards. Afridi took keen interest in the process, quality of scrap being used, performance of anti-pollution equipment and overall housekeeping of the industry.

The representative of steel industries assured the minister of their cooperation in ensuring improvement in controlling air pollution. Afridi acknowledged the efforts of steel industry in improving environmental compliance but asked the owners to ensure lesser pollution.

“I want to see the industries flourishing, but at the same time I desire that pollution is being curtailed,” he said. “We need to focus on both: flourishing industries and making environment clean,” Afridi added. The minister asked the capital industrialists to become models for other industrial units in the country by observing the environmental standards.

Carbon credits: He directed the Pak-EPA DG to bring steel furnaces under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), so they also enjoy the benefits of carbon credits. “Let the industry benefit from carbon credits and contribute simultaneously to reduction from environment in carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, that is responsible for climate change,” he said. app

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