KARACHI: The Sindh government is likely to a form a joint venture with a Chinese firm, Asia Pacific for setting up combined effluent treatment plants (CETPs) in Karachi’s industrial areas with an equity ratio of 20:80 between the two partners, sources told Pakistan Today.
The Chinese firm along with its joint venture partners recently expressed interest to invest in establishing CETPs in Karachi’s industrial areas to abate environment pollution and promote cost-effective pollution treatment.
Asia Pacific’s representatives met Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and briefed him about the venture, which Shah admired, saying that the CETPs would be established in Korangi Industrial Area, Landhi Industrial Area, SITE Industrial Area, Federal B Industrial Area and North Karachi Industrial Area at a cost of Rs 7.366 billion in three years.
Sources said the scheme was approved by the Provincial Development Working Party and forwarded to federal authorities for approval of the Central Development Working Party.
It was proposed earlier that the CETPs would be set up on an equal cost-sharing basis by the federal and provincial governments.
However, the financial crunch and the Centre’s reluctance have compelled the authorities to change the decision. It has been proposed now that the Sindh government would invest 20 percent, while Asia Pacific 80 percent under the joint venture agreement, which would be signed shortly.
The senior officials of the Industries, Commerce, and Planning and Development departments would thoroughly examine and evaluate the joint venture proposals of Asia Pacific, both in technical and financial terms.
The Industries and Commerce departments have so far selected at least three locations for treatment plant-1, seven for plant-2 (Trans-Lyari), eight for Federal B Area and North Karachi, and two for Korangi and Landhi industrial areas.
These points were selected to assess sewerage flow from each of the industrial estates that can be collected through interceptor sewers, which will collect sewage flow from outfall points of each industrial area and carry it to their relevant plants.
Currently, the flow of SITE Industrial Area stands at 19 million gallons per day (MGD); Trans-Lyari Industrial Area 27MGD; Federal B Area and North Karachi Industrial Area 8MGD; and Korangi Industrial Area and Landhi Industrial Area 26MGD.
Furthermore, the basic purpose of these CETPs was to treat wastewater before its final discharge into the receiving water body as per the requirements of the National Environmental Quality Standards and to avoid contamination of soil and groundwater.
The achievements of this important project would also contribute to a successful implementation of the National Conservation Strategy, besides meeting new challenges in the international market to the export-oriented industry due to the World Trade Organisation.
The industrialists would be facilitated in abiding by the national laws, and also the international market by fulfilling the aspects of environmental compliance.
