All stakeholders needed to check marine pollution: Admiral Khan Hasham

All stakeholders needed to check marine pollution: Admiral Khan Hasham
All stakeholders needed to check marine pollution: Admiral Khan Hasham

KARACHI, Oct 4 (APP): Speakers at a seminar, expressing concern over growing marine pollution, underlined the need for preventive measures to keep ports and sea clean, and also urged all stakeholders to come on the same page to check marine pollution.

Speaking at a day-long international seminar on oil spill and its response mechanism organised by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), here on Tuesday, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Khan Hasham bin Saddique said serious steps are needed to check marine pollution, according to a PMSA press release issued here.

He said the department concerned and Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) have to come on the same page to resolve the issue of marine pollution.

Admiral Khan Hasham bin Saddique said Pakistan Navy is fully aware of its responsibilities in this regard. ‘We are here to play our due role as and when needed’, he added.

He pointed out that 87 percent sewerage water is let to discharge into the sea untreated, adding that all entities will have to play role to improve sewerage disposal system and resolve other related civic issues.

He stressed the need for utilising modern technology for the proper treatment of sewerage water.

Earlier, PMSA Director General Rear Admiral Jameel Akthar, in his address, said that public awareness is necessary to reduce marine pollution.

He pointed out that during the current year marine life is affected by 60 percent due to marine pollution. He called for tackling marine pollution issue at every level.

KPT Chairman Vice Admiral (retd) Shafqat Javed said that improvement in marine environment is the need of the hour.

He said that KPT has always played its due role in his regard.

He urged all stakeholders to discharge their responsibilities to keep marine life thriving.

On the occasion, Owant Amri from Turkey, Yahiya Usmani from Marine Academy, Shahid Lutfi and Muhammad Moazzam Khan gave awareness briefing and answered questions of the audience.

Later, the PMSA Director General presented shields to Vice Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Khan Hasham bin Saddique and KPT Chairman Vice Admiral (retd) Shafqat Javed.

APP Services