SEPA launches Sindh Integrated Environmental Monitoring MIS

KARACHI, Sep 23 (APP): Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Wednesday, launched digitalization and Sindh Integrated Environmental Monitoring and Management Information System (SIEMMIS).

Aimed at connecting environmental governance, monitoring and public services across the province with a centralized modern digital platform, the digitalization and SIEMMIS were introduced at a three-day technology exhibition at Expo Center Karachi.

The initiative will encompass online application and renewal of environmental licenses, NOC processing, industrial registration and compliance monitoring, submission and tracking of environmental complaints and inspection management into an integrated system.

Sindh Secretary Environment, Faisal Ahmed Uqaili, elaborated that SEPA was being shifted towards digital environmental governance to make the process of environmental approvals, NOCs, industrial registration, inspection, complaints and record management faster, more transparent and effective.

The system will enable GIS mapping of industrial establishments, real-time monitoring of environmental data and instant access to digital documents and historical records, which will promote data-based decision-making in environmental matters.

For the convenience of citizens, an artificial intelligence-based multilingual chatbot is also being introduced, providing guidance in English and Urdu, the secretary said, adding that applicants will be able to track the progress of their applications and complaints online and get timely information about its status, making the entire process from registration of environmental complaints to their redressal transparently trackable.

The government aims to establish an environmental system through the effective use of technology that will help in establishing a clean, green and healthy Sindh, Faisal Ahmed Uqaili said and added that the digitalization of SEPA will help government institutions in better monitoring, automated workflow, central environmental information database and transparent decision-making.