Experts at a round-table meeting organised by
the Ministry of Climate Change (MOCC) warned that hazardous waste from ship
breaking yards would increase to 122,000 tonnes in 10 years.
These views were expressed at a donors
round-table meeting on ‘Environmentally Sound Management of Waste from Ship
Dismantling and other Industries in Pakistan’ on Wednesday. The workshop aimed
to highlight the practical approach for protecting the environment from 22,000
tonnes of hazardous waste produced per year. It was also emphasised during the
meeting to enhance the development of safe and environmentally sound
ship-recycling in the country with an aim to improve the standards and
sustainability of the ship breaking industry.
It was envisaged that a common hazardous
waste treatment, storage and disposal facility should be established in Gadani
for making the shipyards there environmentally sustainable. MOCC Secretary Syed
Abu Ahmad Akif, MOCC Joint Secretary, International Labour Organisation Country
Director Ingrid Christensen, UNEP Secretariat of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm
Conventions Programme Officer Susan Wingfield, Ministry of Environment
Secretary Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta, Ministry of Climate Change Deputy Director Dr
Zaigham Abbas participated in the workshop. Akif said that it was the ultimate
responsibility of the ship breaking industry to adopt safe and sustainable
standards. He warned that if protective measures were not taken, the waste
levels would drastically increase to over 122,000 metric tonnes in 10 years. In
the welcome address, the joint secretary of MOCC said that the ministry was
determined to protect the environment and collaborate with relevant
organisations across the globe to keep the marine and aquatic life safe. Bhutta
said that Gadani ship-breaking yard is the world’s third largest ship breaking
yard and providing environment-friendly waste management and recycling
facilities would strengthen the industry in Pakistan.
Source: Hellenic
shipping news. 16 December 2016
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