Ignoring the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) has not even shifted even a single industrial unit from the residential areas of the metropolitan, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Taking notice over the deaths of around a dozen people when a drug manufacturing factory in Lahore collapsed due to a cylinder blast, the Supreme Court, on February 17 last year, had directed the Punjab government to shift all factories away from residential areas of Lahore to the city’s outskirts.
Despite the lapse of around one year, not a single industrial unit has been shifted out from the residential area.
While the authorities are playing delaying tactics to gain more time, over 350 industrial units have been found which use highly dangerous pressure vessels, chemicals and boilers.
Various departments, including TEPA, the Rescue Department, the Civil Defense Department, Labour Department, Environment Department, Monitoring and Inspection Department and Industries Department are responsible to ensure the safety of the machinery used in the industrial unit.
There are around 77 units using boilers in residential areas. Although law does not prohibit the use of boilers, some factories buy boilers from unregistered companies or from those which have avoided inspections or were served notices to shut down.
Boilers are used in shoemaking, rice processing, and rubber, food, paper and pharmaceuticals manufacturing. Most of the units using illegal boilers in the metropolitan are located at Sheranwala Gate, Multan Road, Bund Road, Shahdra and Ferozepur Road.
Sources told that “The current government is unable to take any serious action because the elections are around the corner, and the government cannot play any such move which may decrease their vote bank or popularity”.
An Industries Department official told Pakistan today that a committee had been formed which included the home secretary, industries secretary, labour secretary and the local government secretary.
“This committee will take serious action to ensure the safety of the precious lives,” he said.
According to CDGL officials, a report had submitted to the home secretary.
“Now we are waiting for further instructions from the high-ups. The process of shifting the industrial units will be initiated soon,” the official said.
