KARACHI – The National Water Engineering (NWE), through the Kyoto protocol, has lined up several foreign environmental investment companies that are willing to invest $2 billion to develop small to large sewage treatment plants in Pakistan.
The NWE is the only accredited sewage treatment technology provider in the country.
“The company has been granted approval from several foreign environmental investment companies to develop small to mega treatment plants in Pakistan,” said NWE CEO Jamaal Hassan.
“We have identified seven keys areas for the development of treatment plants in Sindh, mostly industrial areas, where toxic effluent is dumped without being treated and as a result, toxic wastewater is used for agriculture and consumable purposes, causing many viral and untreatable diseases in Sindh,” he added.
The NWE has submitted proposals to various government departments of Sindh. It is believed that the development of over 100 wastewater treatment plants is vital for the survival of key agricultural lands in Sindh otherwise in the next two years, main components of soil would deplete drastically.
The water used by farmers is highly toxic with excess levels of BOD and COD, posing threat to consumers and growers alike. Stagnant floodwaters have also become major disease breeding areas spreading many viral infections.
“We realise the government’s lack of financial resources to develop these treatment plants and have lined up foreign environmental investment companies through the UN Kyoto Protocol who are willing to invest $2 billion,” he added.
This is a great opportunity for Pakistan and the government should take serious notice for development of these plants. Investors have been lined up for development of treatment plants in Karachi, especially the DHA, the KPT and the city government, as only 10 percent of wastewater is treated and the remaining dumped into the sea, which has destroyed the ecosystem near the coastal belt. The treated water can be reused for several purposes, saving over 100 million gallon of potable water, which is otherwise used for greenery development and directed for domestic consumption.
Jamal said that all relevant government departments and private industries’ owners should contact the company for development of sewage treatment plants for the development of the environment and conserving water resources.
